Pacer Tennis Teams Open Fall on High Note

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Aiken men’s and women’s tennis teams fared extremely well during their first competition of the fall this past weekend at the USC Upstate Fall Classic at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex.

On the men’s side, 2010 All-America selection Greg Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Unigrade Valinhos) kicked off his season in prime fashion by advancing to the men’s singles “A” consolation final. Andrade battled Clemson’s No. 5 player all the way to the end in the final before eventually falling, 9-8.

Andrade and new doubles partner Bruno Orlandi (Araraquara, SP/Brazil/E.E.B.A) made it to the final of the consolation doubles “A” portion of the USC Upstate Fall Classic before falling to the Wofford tandem of Paul Bartholomy and Alan Donald.

In the men’s doubles “B” section of the classic, the Pacer doubles tandem of Ben Klaas (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/Kuala Lumpur) and Lucas Gobbi (Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, Brazil /Colegio Polite) bowed out in the quarterfinals to Kennesaw State’s Gokalp Ozdemir and Gianni Kubin, 8-4.

In women’s action, Pacer newcomer Andrea Cediel (Miami, Fla./Cypress Bay High School) advanced to the finals of the women’s singles “B” flight of the USC Upstate Classic. Cediel and senior teammate Stephanie Humphrey (Harpenden, England/Sir John Lawes) made it to the final of the doubles “A” consolation bracket.

The Pacers will continue their fall campaigns this weekend at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Regionals. The region championships are being held at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.

The event will run Friday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Sept. 26.