AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's tennis team fell to 14th ranked University of South Carolina Spartanburg, 8-1, today at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex in Aiken, S.C. The Pacers, ranked number 32 in NCAA Division II, drop to 11-8 overall and 2-6 in Peach Belt Conference play. The Rifles improve to 13-3 and 5-1 in the PBC.

Harshit Sharma earned USC Aiken's lone point by beating the 14th ranked player in NCAA Division II, Diego Sist, in three sets in the number one singles match. After losing the first set 6-3, Sharma came back and won the next two, 7-5 and 10-7. The USCA sophomore is ranked number 50 in the nation.

Carlos Huerta lost in three sets in the number six singles match. David Gustafsson came from behind to beat Huerta, 2-6, 6-1 and 10-3.

The Rifles won the other four singles matches in straight sets. 

USCS jumped out to the early lead by winning all three doubles matches. The duo of Jose Reyes and Stefan Dumitrescu edged USC Aiken's doubles team of Nicolas Lombardo and Huerta in the number three doubles match by a score of 9-8.

The Pacers will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Tigerville, S.C., to face North Greenville College beginning at 1:00 p.m.

USC Spartanburg defeats USC Aiken 8-1
Singles:
#1 Harshit Sharma (USCA) and Diego Sist (USCS) 3-6, 7-5, 10-7*
#2 Jose Luis Reyes (USCS) defeats Pierre Negri (USCA) 7-5, 7-5
#3 Stefan Dumitrescu (USCS) defeats Fernando Guevara (USCA) 6-2, 6-3
#4 Aly Mandour (USCS) and Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 6-1, 6-2
#5 Ben Ureta (USCS) defeats Fernando Blanco (USCA) 6-3, 6-2
#6 David Gustafsson (USCS) defeats Carlos Huerta (USCA) 2-6, 6-1, 10-3*
*Tiebreaker played in lieu of the third set

Doubles:
#1 Ureta/Sist (USCS) defeat Blanco/Negri (USCA) 8-4
#2 Mandour/Gustafsson (USCS) defeat Sharma/Guevara (USCA) 8-3
#3 Reyes/Dumitrescu (USCS) defeat Lombardo/Huerta (USCA) 9-8