South Carolina Women’s Tennis Falls to Arkansas in SEC Tournament Opener
The South Carolina women’s tennis team’s run in the 2026 SEC Championship ended abruptly on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, with a narrow 4-3 loss to Arkansas in the first round. Despite a strong start in doubles and early momentum in singles, the Gamecocks were unable to close out the match in Norman, Okla.
Strong Start in Doubles Play
South Carolina entered the singles portion of the match with a 1-0 lead after securing two of the three doubles courts. The momentum began at the No. 2 position, where Kaitlyn Carnicella and Jana Stojanova earned a decisive 6-3 victory. While Jane Dunyon and Sara Borkop dropped their match on court three, the No. 13-ranked duo of Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman clinched the doubles point for the Gamecocks with a 6-4 win over Carolina Gomez Alonso and Anet Koskel.
Singles Battle: Momentum Shifts
The Gamecocks continued their early success in singles. Helena Buchwald secured the first singles point of the day with a straight-set victory (6-4, 6-4) on court two. Jana Stojanova followed suit, winning a tight first-set tiebreak 7-6 (8-6) before claiming the second set 6-3, putting South Carolina in a commanding position.
However, Arkansas mounted a comeback to even the score. Jane Dunyon fought back after losing her first set 6-3, forcing a third set, but ultimately fell to her opponent, bringing the overall match score to 3-3.
The Deciding Match
The outcome of the match rested on court three with Sara Borkop. After dropping the opening set, Borkop rallied to take the second set and force a deciding third frame. Despite erasing an early 2-0 deficit to level the final set at 2-2, Arkansas regained control late in the match to secure the clinching point.
Match Summary: No. 27 South Carolina vs. No. 54 Arkansas
- Final Score: Arkansas 4, South Carolina 3
- Doubles Result: South Carolina won the doubles point (Order of finish: 2, 3, 1)
- Key Performance: No. 13 Lauren Friedman and Helena Buchwald (SC) def. Carolina Gomez Alonso and Anet Koskel (Ark) 6-4
Key Takeaways
- Doubles Dominance: South Carolina’s top-ranked pairings provided an early advantage.
- Competitive Singles: Both teams pushed matches to three sets on courts three and four.
- Tournament Exit: The loss eliminates the Gamecocks from the 2026 SEC Championship.