Feb. 26, 2009

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Down 5-3 in the No. 3 doubles tiebreaker, junior Jack Roux and freshman Edgar Rodriguez turned the momentum around, tying the match at five on a close line call and then Rodriguez slammed a high lob pass to the turf behind the tennis cages, helping the pair to an 8-6 win in the tiebreaker to take the split-decision doubles point and help propel the USC Upstate men's tennis team to a 7-0 win over crosstown rival Wofford at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex on Thursday night.

Upstate improves to 8-2 on the season and has won six matches straight. Wofford is 3-6 overall.

Juniors Javier Tori and Renzo Airaldi started the doubles point off with an 8-5 win at No. 1 over Wofford's Stuart Robertson and Danny Manlow. After a Terriers' win at No. 2 doubles, it set up the showdown at No. 3 doubles. Down 7-5, Roux and Rodriguez fought back by winning three straight games before the Wofford pair of Scott Collins and Tinus van Wyk tied the match at eight, setting up the Spartans' dramatic win in the tiebreaker.

Rodriguez started the singles off by posting a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles over Stuart Robertson. Airaldi posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Collins at No. 2 and Tori notched a 6-4, 6-4 win over Manlow at No. 3 singles to clinch the match. The Spartans wrapped up the sweep, as senior Leandro Osorio posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Paul Bartholomy at No. 6 singles and Upstate took two super-set tiebreakers to wrap up the match, as Roux posted a 6-3, 6-7 (1), 10-4 over van Wyk at No. 4 singles and freshman Ramiro Blanco added a 5-7, 6-2, 10-3 win over Alan Donald at No. 4 singles.

Tori moved into a tie for seventh in school history with teammate, junior Arnaldo Lovera, with 46 career singles wins.

Upstate will be back on the courts on Sunday when it heads to Georgia Southern for a 2 p.m. match.