Columbia, S.C. ? The No. 21 Kentucky men?s tennis team fell 4-1 Friday to No. 43 South Carolina at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center in Columbia, S.C. The loss dropped the Cats? record to 15-6 (6-3 Southeastern Conference) on the season while the Gamecocks improved their record to 12-11 (4-5).

UK got off to a strong start by claiming the doubles point. At the No. 3 spot, freshmen Bruno Agostinelli and Kenny Hodge captured the Cats? first doubles win by beating USC?s Thomas Stoddard and Joseph Veeder 8-1. The Gamecocks? Jaime Cuellar and Yevgeny Supeko turned back UK?s team of senior Nate Emge and junior Greg Johnstone 8-2 at the No. 2 spot setting up the decisive match between the two school?s top teams. The Wildcats claimed the point when senior Alex Hume and sophomore Marcus Sundh outlasted South Carolina?s Tom Eklund and Pedro Rodrigues 9-8 (7-2).

In singles action, UK lost the momentum from doubles play by dropping all four matches. At the No. 1 spot, No. 56 Hume fell to Eklund in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. No. 58 Agostinelli fell at the No. 2 spot 6-4, 6-2, to USC?s Cuellar. Senior Carey Rubin was swept 6-1, 6-2, by USC?s Supeko at the No. 4 spot while Johnstone fell 6-3, 6-3, to South Carolina?s Adam Alder at the No. 6 spot.

?South Carolina played a really good match on its home court today,? head coach Dennis Emery said. ?We came out early and played really well winning the doubles point but struggled in singles action. We got behind early and didn?t make the proper adjustments needed to comeback and gain the win.?

Kentucky will look to regroup on Sunday as they battle No. 15 Florida at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT. Fans can check ukathletics.com for live stats and a recap following the match.

No. 43 South Carolina def. No. 21 UK 4-1

Doubles:

1. Alex Hume/Marcus Sundh (UK) def. Tom Eklund/Pedro Rodrigues (SC) 9-8 (7-2)
2. Jaime Cuellar/Yevgeny Supeko (SC) def. Nate Emge/Greg Johnstone (UK) 8-2
3. Bruno Agostinelli/Kenny Hodge (UK) def. Thomas Stoddard/Joseph Veeder (SC) 8-1

Singles:

1. Tom Eklund (SC) def. #56 Alex Hume (UK) 6-4, 6-2
2. Jaime Cuellar (SC) def. #58 Bruno Agostinelli (UK) 6-4, 6-2
3. Pedro Rodrigues (SC) vs. #115 Nate Emge (UK) 5-7, 1-0 (susp.)
4. Yevgeny Supeko (SC) def. Carey Rubin (UK) 6-1, 6-2
5. Marcus Sundh (UK) vs. Thomas Stoddard (SC) 6-3, 4-1 (susp.)
6. Adam Adler (SC) def. Greg Johnstone (UK) 6-3, 6-3