UNC Greensboro 4, Georgia Southern 3
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern brought UNC Greensboro to the wire in a Southern Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon (April 10). The Spartans clinched the 4-3 decision with a three-set victory at the top singles seed to remain unbeaten in league play on the season. UNCG moved to 15-3 overall and 8-0 in league competition, while GS dropped to 6-13, 1-6.
A tight doubles point victory gave UNCG some momentum heading into singles play. The Eagles took the doubles lead winning at the two seed to open play as Jayraj Jadeja and Justin Flynn downed William John/Timion Meijs, 8-4, for the first win. But the Spartans responded with two 9-7 victories at the three and one seeds to clinch the doubles point and the 1-0 lead.
Senior Gregory Bekkers evened the match with a straight-set win, 6-4, 6-3, at the six seed to open singles play and Georgia Southern took a 2-1 lead with a 6-2, 7-6 (2) triumph from Alain Garrido at the four seed over Yaroslav Litus. But the Spartans knotted the match at 2-all when Arsel Kumdereli won the first of two three-setters for UNCG at the two seed, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, over Jadeja.
UNCG regained the lead, 3-2, with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2, but the Eagles bounced right back with a three-set victory at No. 5. Flynn dropped the first set to Meijs, 6-3, but cruised in the second set, 6-0, to draw a final third set in which the senior was victorious, 7-5.
With the match tied at 3-3, all eyes turned to the top seed for the decision. Freshman Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos handed Orcun Seyrek a 6-4 first set loss, but Seyrek grabbed the second set, 6-2 as the conference foes drew a final third set. Melian Puigventos challenged the reigning SoCon Player of the Year in the final set, but fell, 6-4, as UNCG clinched the match, 4-3.
Furman 6, Elon 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman men's tennis team picked up its fifth-straight win and remained unbeaten in the Southern Conference after defeating Elon, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
The Paladins rallied to win the doubles point. Freshmen Tyler Droll and Andrew Mellow took an early 8-5 win over Thomas Darling and Eric Turner at number three doubles before Philip Nemec and Cody Stauffer-MacDowell evened the score with an 8-5 win over freshman Carl Lundberg and senior Jordan Walters at number two doubles. In the deciding number one match, Paladin junior Sawyer Duncan and senior Chris Motes came from behind for a 9-8(4) win over Chase Helpingstine and Alberto Rojas to clinch the point.
Furman won five out of six singles matches to seal the victory, but the Phoenix forced several close sets. Duncan defeated Nemec 6-3, 7-5 at number one singles, while Motes beat Helpingstine 7-6(4), 6-1 in the second singles match. Lundberg beat Turner 4-6, 6-3, (10-8) at number three singles, and Walters posted a 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 win over Rojas in the number four singles match. Mellow beat Carlos Arboleda 6-2, 6-4 at number five singles for the Paladins.
Elon's lone point came off a 7-6(3), 6-2 win by Thomas Darling over droll at number six singles.
Appalachian State 4, Charlotte 3
BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University men's tennis continued with its strong play, as the Mountaineers picked up a 4-3 win over non-conference opponent Charlotte, Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Mountaineers to 10-8 on the season and drops the 49ers to 4-14 overall.
Once again doubles play was no problem for the Apps, which cruised to victories in all three matches.
Philip Kloc and Alain Humblet got the Black and Gold started on a strong note, as they downed their competitors 8-1 at the two position.
The team of Trent Constance and Peter Jacobs followed suit, beating Moritz Bernhoerster and Jesse Hutchinson 8-6 at the one spot to clinch the doubles point.
Keeping Appalachian spotless in doubles action, Andrew McKinnon and Britton Webb were victorious as well, grabbing an 8-3 win at the three slot.
In singles play, McKinnon could not hang with Hutchinson dropping a 6-3, 6-4 decision at the five spot.
Kloc however downed Anthony Davison in two sets, winning 6-1, 6-3 and keeping ASU on top 2-1.
Constance was able to earn a win in two sets as well, beating Michael Anders 6-1, 7-6.
Jacobs secured the match win for the Mountaineers as he edged Bernhoerster in three sets at the one position.
Unfortunately, Humblet and Webb could not keep pace with their opponents at the two and six spots, as Humblet lost in three hard-fought sets and Webb fell in two.
The Black and Gold return to Southern Conference action Sunday April 11, as they welcome Samford to the High Country. The two teams square off at 11 a.m. at the ASU Tennis Courts.
Memphis 5, Chattanooga 2
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a tight 5-2 match to Memphis in Murfreesboro, Tenn., this afternoon. The Mocs fall to 4-14 on the year while the Tigers improve to 10-9 overall.
Memphis swept the doubles point to go up 1-0 in the match. Freshman Roberto Vieira spanked Jordan Smith 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 to tie the score at 1-1. It is Vieira's fourth straight win and the sixth in his last seven matches. He leads the team with a 12-7 mark in singles play this season.
The Tigers closed out the match with three straight wins, but Chattanooga did score a victory at No. 4. Freshman Jackson Tresnan defeated Michael Janz, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0. It was Tresnan's second win of the week as he improves to 7-12 on the year.
The Mocs return to the UTC Tennis Courts on Tuesday, April 13 for the final home match of the season. Chattanooga hosts Tennessee-Wesleyan at 2:30 p.m.