South Carolina Women's Tennis Upsets #21 Clemson in Thriller

Gamecocks rally from early deficit to claim 4-3 victory over rival Tigers

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The South Carolina women's tennis team staged a dramatic comeback to upset No. 21 Clemson, 4-3, in a late-night thriller at the Carolina Outdoor Tennis Center. After falling behind early, the Gamecocks stormed back to win four singles matches and clinch the victory in the final match on court four.

Why it matters

This upset win over a highly ranked conference rival boosts South Carolina's postseason hopes and continues the long-standing tennis rivalry between the two in-state schools. The Gamecocks' ability to rally from an early deficit also demonstrates their resilience and competitive spirit.

The details

South Carolina dropped the doubles point, but the Gamecocks bounced back to win four singles matches, including comeback victories from Helena Buchwald, Kaitlyn Carnicella, and Taylor Goetz. Goetz sealed the win for South Carolina with a three-set triumph over Clemson's No. 124-ranked singles player.

  • The match took place on Wednesday night, February 10, 2026.
  • South Carolina will host a doubleheader on Saturday, February 14, 2026, facing Charlotte at 10 a.m. and South Carolina State at 1 p.m.

The players

Taylor Goetz

A South Carolina women's tennis player who clinched the upset victory over Clemson with a three-set win on court four.

Helena Buchwald

A South Carolina women's tennis player who secured the Gamecocks' first singles point with a comeback win after falling 0-6 in the first set.

Kaitlyn Carnicella

A South Carolina women's tennis player who won her singles match in three sets to even the overall score at 2-2.

Jane Dunyon

A South Carolina women's tennis player who won her singles match in three sets to give the Gamecocks a 3-2 lead.

Jade Groen

A Clemson women's tennis player who lost her singles match to Kaitlyn Carnicella.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for our team. We showed a lot of fight and resilience to come back from an early deficit and get the victory over a ranked opponent.”

— Taylor Goetz

What’s next

The Gamecocks will look to build on this upset win when they host a doubleheader on Saturday, February 14, 2026, facing Charlotte at 10 a.m. and South Carolina State at 1 p.m.

The takeaway

South Carolina's women's tennis team demonstrated its competitive spirit and ability to rally from adversity, upsetting a ranked conference rival in a thrilling comeback victory that boosts their postseason aspirations.