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Tennis teams look to continue strong performances Nick Esarcs / THE GAMECOC Natasa Vuckovic rallies during a recent practice. Hlyssa fiber THE GAMECOCK The USC men’s and women’s tennis teams have a lot in common. Each team possesses top players and coaches. Both had strong performances throughout the fall, and they both will begin conference play Friday, March 3 against Mississippi State. I The USC men have gone 6-4 since their dual match season began in late January and are ranked No. 10 in the nation by the Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings. The Gamecocks looked unstoppable at the beginning of the season when they went on a six-match winning streak. However, in recent weeks the Gamecocks have K stumbfed and lost their last four matches. The team also struggled at the U.S. Tennis Association/International Tennis Association’s annual Indoor Championship in Seattle February 17-20. The team fell to Florida State, Penn State and fellow Southeastern Conference competitor Ole Miss. However, the men have three more opportunities to add to the win column before their first official SEC matchup. The team will face in-state rival Charleston Southern at home Thursday, North Carolina State at home Saturday, and Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on Tuesday. Coach Kent DeMars, who is in his 21st year at USC, has a strong roster of players, including team-captain senior Tom Eklund. Eklund advanced to the NCAA Singles Championships last season and entered the fall season ranked No. 15 in the country. Coach DeMars feels like he has a team that will not only be in the fight for the SEC championship but also the national championship. “Nationally, this may be the most wide open year in a decade, and I feel that we should be in the mix somewhere,” DeMars said. The USC women also had a very strong open to their dual-match season, demonstrating the skill that has led them to 11 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Gamecocks, like their male counterparts, had a phenomenal open to the Tennis • i _