COLUMBIA, S.C. – Ole Miss takes down its second top-14 opponent within the span of a week after defeating No. 14 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center.
On March 8, the Rebels defeated No. 11 Vanderbilt for their highest-ranked win since 2021. Seven days later, the Rebels topped the No. 14 Gamecocks for their second top 15 win of the season.
The Rebels were trying to fend off a comeback by the Gamecocks as they led the match 3-2. On court five, Ole Miss senior Noah Schlagenhauf was caught in a third set with Gabe Avram. Schlegenhauf went on to win the final set 6-3 to clinch the match for the Rebels. Schlagenhauf was also the clinching court in the Rebels’ matchup against the Commodores.
The afternoon began with high-stakes doubles action, where Ole Miss (15-4, 3-4 SEC) set the tone early. The No. 63 pairing of Stefano D’Agostino and Pietro Pampanin secured a ranked doubles win by defeating the No. 24 duo of Sean Daryabeigi and Max Stenzer 6-3. Matthieu Chambonniere and Benjamin Martin then secured the doubles point for the Rebels after defeating Charlie Swaine and Cole Henceroth 6-4.
Singles play proved to be a test of endurance as the Gamecocks (10-5, 3-4 SEC) fought to defend their home courts. Vlado Jankanj would add to Ole Miss’s lead first after he secured the first singles point with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Atakan Karahan. South Carolina then got its first point on the board, as No. 100 Paul Barbier Gazeu defeated Pampanin 6-3, 6-2.
With the Rebels leading 2-1, it would be Martin who would deliver the third match point for the visitors. Martin was able to cruise to a 6-2 win in his first set against Charlie Swaine. However, would go into an extended second set where he would outlast Swaine, 7-5.
South Carolina would then tally another point when it won another singles court to cut Ole Miss’s lead to 3-2. But that would lead to Schlagenhauf’s court clinching for the Rebels.
To finish the match, Stefano D’Agostino completed an upset of his own, taking down No. 16 Lucas da Silva 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
The Rebels will return to Oxford on Friday, March 20, to take on the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs. First serve is set for 3 p.m. at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
Doubles Results
1. #10 Lucas da Silva/Paul Barbier Gazeu (SC) vs. Isac Stromberg/Kai Milburn (OM) 4-5, unfinished
2. #63 Stefano D’Agostino/Pietro Pampanin (OM) def. #24 Sean Daryabeigi/Max Stenzer (SC) 6-3
3. M. Chambonniere/Benjamin Martin (OM) def. Charlie Swaine/Cole Henceroth (SC) 6-4
Singles Results
1. Stefano D’Agostino (OM) def. #16 Lucas da Silva (SC) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
2. #40 Sean Daryabeigi (SC) def. M. Chambonniere (OM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #100 Paul Barbier Gazeu (SC) def. Pietro Pampanin (OM) 6-3, 6-2
4. Vlado Jankanj (OM) def. Atakan Karahan (SC) 6-1, 6-2
5. Noah Schlagenhauf (OM) def. Gabe Avram (SC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Benjamin Martin (OM) def. Charlie Swaine (SC) 6-2, 7-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 3); Singles (4, 3, 6, 2, 5, 1)