ETSU 6, Winthrop 1
BRISTOL, Tenn. - The ETSU men's tennis team extended its winning streak to three matches Saturday, earning a commanding 6-1 victory versus Winthrop at the Bristol Racquet & Fitness Club in Bristol, Tenn.
"Obviously every win is a great win," ETSU head coach Yaser Zaatini said. "Especially when we started so roughly, playing all these big teams and trying to get on the board early, which we had a rough time doing frequently."
Five of the Buccaneers' (4-6) first seven matches this season came against ranked opponents. Since starting 1-6, ETSU has been on a roll, winning three straight matches.
Playing in just their second home match of the season, the Bucs came out strongly Saturday, earning the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots.
"To see the guys starting to come together and blossom and play with confidence is comforting," Zaatini said. "Winthrop is a solid team, but I think playing at home gave our guys some inspiration. There is a lot of room for improvement, though."
ETSU won five of the six singles spots, with all five wins coming in straight-set fashion.
With the Bucs holding a 3-1 match lead, freshman Robert Herrera clinched the victory for ETSU, cruising past Winthrop's Joshua Ryan, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 6 Singles.
Co-captain Rogerio Ribeiro capped the match with a hard-fought, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (1), win at No. 2 Singles.
Herrera and co-captains Ribeiro and Ismael Merino each extended their singles win streaks to three matches.
"It was a solid overall performance," ETSU assistant coach Ricky Rojas said. "We are starting to gain more confidence with each of these wins. We are still not where we want to be, but I feel we are getting there."
Only one match, a March 19 meeting versus Georgia, stands between ETSU and the start of Southern Conference play.
"What I want to see is the guys being invested in every point of every match," Zaatini said.
Troy 4, Furman 3
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Giovani Samaha posted a 7-5, 7-5 win over Luke Synn at flight six singles to break open a 3-3 tie and lead 62nd-ranked Troy past Furman, 4-3, Friday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C.
The Trojans won two of three doubles matches to claim the opening point. Hassan Ndayishimye and Gabriel Dias teamed up to beat juniors Matt Browne and Ben Horst, 6-4, at flight one, and Samaha and Austin Racine downed senior Jacob Behal and freshman Stefan Rhodes, 6-4, at number three. The Paladins’ were victorious at number two, as sophomore Adam Steryous and freshman Cameron Green defeated Pablo Moreno and Andy Lau, 6-2.
In singles action, Steryous tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory versus Dias in the top-flighted contest, then Ndayishimye put Troy back on top, 2-1, after beating Browne, 6-4, 7-6(3), at flight two. Green came from behind to tie the score at 2-all with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Lau in the flight three match-up, but Moreno gave the Trojans a 3-2 advantage after beating Horst, 5-7, 7-2, 7-2, at number four. The Paladins tied the match a 3-3 when Behal topped Daniel Bustamante, 6-4, 6-2, at flight five, setting up the decisive flight six match-up.
Furman (2-9) will entertain UAB Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Mickel Tennis Center.