Feb. 13, 2014
THE FLATS – Two weeks removed from its biggest victory in three years, Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team returns to action Friday at 5 p.m. when the Yellow Jackets take on 24th-ranked Auburn at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
The 46th-ranked Yellow Jackets also host a Sunday double-header against Old Dominion at 12 noon and The Citadel at 5 p.m. Parking for spectators is available in the McCamish Pavilion lot, Peters Parking Deck and the Klaus Deck.
Tech (4-0) made its debut in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings last week after stunning 17th-ranked South Carolina, 4-2. The Gamecocks were the highest ranked team the Yellow Jackets had defeated since 2011.
The Tigers come in with an 8-1 record and a lone loss to No. 6 Baylor. The Monarchs (6-1), coached by former Tech assistant Aljosa Piric, have lost only to No. 55 Princeton, and the Bulldogs are 2-6 pending a Friday match against East Carolina.
“We always seem to have a great battle against Auburn,” said Tech coach Kenny Thorne. “Eric Shore does a good job of having a tough team year after year. We have competed hard this year and we will need to bring that consistent fight. People around Atlanta will be wanting to get out of their homes after all this snow and ice so the Ken Byers tennis complex is a good place to go see some great tennis before they head out to a nice Valentines dinner.”
Three Tech players – No. 1 Nathan Rakitt, No. 2 Carlos Benito and No. 4 Casey Kay, who earned the clinching point against South Carolina, are undefeated in dual match play this spring, while No. 3 Eduardo Segura is 3-1.
Tech has won the doubles point in three of four matches, and Thorne has received outstanding play from his top doubles team. Spaniards Segura and Benito knocked off the 24th-ranked team in the nation against South Carolina to go 4-0 this spring and zoom to No. 15 in the ITA doubles rankings.
