COLUMBIA, S.C. – Edgar Rodriguez and Ramiro Blanco won their respective singles matches, but South Carolina up-ended the USC Upstate men's tennis team, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon.

At singles number one, Rodriguez battled to claim the win after falling in the first set, 0-6.  He rallied to down South Carolina's Ivan Machado by winning the final two sets by scores of 6-4, 6-4.

Ramiro Blanco downed Alexander Kostanov in straight sets at singles number two.  Blanco posted a 6-4 victory in set number one and won set two, 6-2.

Gonzalo Blanco battled at singles number three but ultimately fell to Chip Cox, 4-6, 2-6.

Upstate will return to the courts on Wednesday when they begin a three-match homestand as they host cross-town rival Wofford at 3:00 p.m.

Tennis Match Results

USC Upstate vs South Carolina

Feb 20, 2011 at Columbia, S.C.

(USC Fieldhouse)

South Carolina 5, USC Upstate 2

Singles competition

1. Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) def. Ivan Machado (SC) 0-6, 6-4, 6-4

2. Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. Alexander Kostanov (SC) 6-4, 6-2

3. Chip Cox (SC) def. Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) 6-4, 6-2

4. Johannes Pulsfort (SC) def. Marco Linconir (UPSTM) 6-2, 6-2

5. Jake Bowling (SC) def. Gianluca Paino (UPSTM) 6-1, 6-0

6. Harry Menzies (SC) def. Ignacio Velez (UPSTM) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Ivan Machado/Chip Cox (SC) def. Edgar Rodriguez/Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) 8-3

2. Johannes Pulsfort/Chris Sheehan (SC) def. Gonzalo Blanco/Marco Linconir (UPSTM) 8-3

3. Alexander Kostanov/Jake Bowling (SC) def. Gianluca Paino/Ignacio Velez (UPSTM) 8-1

Match Notes:

USC Upstate 2-8

South Carolina 3-5

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,3,2,1,5,6)