AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's and women's tennis teams fell short in their upset bids of nationally-ranked Columbus State in Peach Belt Conference action on Friday afternoon at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex.
In a battle of top 30 teams, the 26th-ranked USC Aiken men (7-6, 1-5 PBC) fell 9-0 to 13th-ranked Columbus State (10-2, 3-2 PBC).
The USC Aiken women (7-9, 1-7 PBC) also dropped a 9-0 decision to nationally ninth-ranked Columbus State (10-2, 7-1 PBC).
Both of the closest matches of the day came at No. 1 doubles.
In the men's match, USC Aiken's nationally 14th-ranked tandem of Gregory Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Unigrade Valinhos) and Bruno Orlandini (Araraquara, SP/Brazil /Longwood) were unable to knock off Columbus State's nationally 12th-ranked duo of Gordan Divljak and Christophe Noblet, falling 9-8.
In the women's match, USC Aiken's No. 1 doubles duo of Stephanie Humphrey (Harpenden, England/Sir John Lawes) and Margot Simon (Nantes, France/St. Joseph de Loquidy) narrowly fell 9-8 to Columbus State's No. 1 doubles tandem of Loriane Favoretto and Madeline Johnson.
The Pacer men and women will next travel to Americus, Ga. for a 2 p.m. match against Peach Belt Conference foe Georgia Southwestern on Sunday, March 27.
