The No. 32 South Carolina women's tennis team begins its journey in the 2026 NCAA Tournament against No. 33 Maryland on Friday at the Chewning Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Gamecocks, holding a 12-12 overall record, aim to capitalize on their recent competitive performances. With key players like Helena Buchwald and Kaitlyn Carnicella leading their singles and doubles teams, South Carolina seeks to advance and potentially face UNC or Charleston Southern in the next round.

By the Numbers
  • South Carolina: 12-12 overall, 5-10 SEC
  • Maryland: 16-6 overall, reached Big 10 semifinals
  • South Carolina's Buchwald: 14-6 in singles, 8-3 in conference
  • Maryland's Orlinska: No. 117 in singles, 20-12 overall
Yes, But

While South Carolina has a strong tournament history, advancing five times to the Round of 16 or better, Maryland is appearing in the tournament for the first time since 2011 and has yet to win a match in NCAA history.

State of Play
  • South Carolina is competing in its 31st consecutive NCAA Tournament, having qualified every year since 1995.
  • Maryland aims to break its winless streak in NCAA play and capitalize on their recent strong regular season performance.
What's Next

The winner of the South Carolina vs. Maryland match will face the victor of UNC versus Charleston Southern on Saturday at 4 p.m., pushing toward a deeper run in the tournament.

Bottom Line

South Carolina needs to leverage its experience and recent strengths, particularly in key matches against ranked opponents, to secure a crucial victory as they eye a potential advancement in the tournament.