UNCG 4, UNCW 3
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNCG men’s tennis team stormed back after dropping the doubles point and defeated UNCW, 4-3, on the road Friday at the UNCW tennis courts.
The Spartans improve to 3-2 on the season and end UNCW’s four-match winning streak as the Seahawks fall to 6-2.
"I am proud of these guys," said head coach Jeff Trivette. "We've been talking a lot about our identiity and what type of team we want to be. We came from behind today and beat a very good team. I think we learned that we can play with anybody."
With the match tied at 3-3, junior Gaston Murray clinched the victory with a tough third set win against Javier Restrepo, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. Murray was able to bounce back after dropping the second set, 1-6 and won the third set 6-1.
In doubles, UNCW took a 1-0 lead after winning two doubles matches to claim the doubles point. At No. 2 doubles, Sam Williams and Xander Veys took down juniors Daniel Mack and Murray, 8-3.
The Seahawks clinched the double point with a 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles as Javier Restrepo and Zach Hublitz defeated redshirt sophomore William Albright and freshman Logan Walker, 8-5.
In the final doubles match, UNCG was holding a 7-5 lead as the duo of senior Randy Phillips and freshman Connor Thompson went unfinished against Santtu Leskinen and Christian Van der Burgh.
In singles, the Blue and Gold came roaring back after trailing 2-0 when Veys defeated senior Cameron Smith 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Phillips won in straight sets against Van der Burgh, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 singles to make the score 2-1 UNCW. Hublitz gave UNCW a 3-1 lead after a straight sets win against sophomore Warren Bryan, 6-4, 6-1.
Mack cut the lead to 3-2 after a 7-5, 6-4 win against Leskinen at No. 2 singles. Thompson remained undefeated on the season with a tight third set win against Andres Torres, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. Thompson lost the second set 4-6 and responded with a 6-4 win in the third set.
ETSU 7, Tennessee Tech 0
BRISTOL, Tenn. - After beginning the season with eight road or neutral-site matches, the ETSU men's tennis team played its first home match of the season Friday, defeating Tennessee Tech by a convincing 7-0 margin in non-conference play at the Bristol Racquet & Fitness Club in Bristol, Tenn.
The Buccaneers (3-6) earned the doubles point by winning at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, and were leading at No. 1 Doubles before the point was clinched.
All six ETSU players picked up straight-set singles wins.
"It was a good, dominant performance," ETSU assistant coach Ricky Rojas said. "I think we were needing an all-around win where everyone got on the board."
Conner Huertas and Sebastian Yllera started the day with a 6-1 win at No. 3 Doubles. Shortly after, Robert Herrera and Ismael Merino clinched a 6-1 win at No. 2.
In singles play, Huertas and Yllera were again the first Bucs to finish play, with Huertas defeating Tennessee Tech's Carlos Tejas, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 4 Singles, and Yllera besting Alvaro Cintas, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 3.
Co-captain Rogerio Ribeiro earned the match-clinching point at No. 2 Singles, defeating Eduardo Mena, 6-1, 6-3, to give the Bucs a 4-0 advantage.
David Biosca, Herrera, and Merino also picked up singles wins for ETSU.
Biosca knocked off Alberto Esteban, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1 Singles, and Herrera defeated Artem Tarasov, 6-0, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot. Meanwhile, Merino took down Jorge Alfonzo, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 5 Singles.
ETSU will look to extend its two-match win streak when the Bucs host Winthrop Friday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m.
"We are slowly but surely building confidence," Rojas said. "Hopefully a win like this will help us down the road this season."