Jan. 17, 2009
Kenny Thorne Interview | Ryan Smith Interview | 2009 Schedule
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s tennis team will open its dual match season against USC Upstate and Wofford in a non-conference doubleheader at the Bill Moore Tennis Center Sunday. The Yellow Jackets will face USC Upstate at 9 a.m., and Wofford at 2 p.m.
“Sunday will be a tough day for us,” head coach Kenny Thorne said. “Both teams are coached very well and will fight hard until the end. We are prepared as well as we can be, and we will have the opportunity to get off to a good start if we play the way we need to.”
In his 11th-year at the helm, Thorne will look to build on last season’s 13-12 record and guide the team back to the NCAA Tournament after missing it in 2008. Not one senior will take the court for Tech Sunday, as the young squad is comprised of one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen. All five sophomores played in at least 20 matches last season, none of which had a losing record.
Sophomore Guillermo Gomez led the team on the fall with a 16-3 singles record, and is currently ranked No. 14 in the country. The Alicante, Spain native went 17-8 in dual match play his first season on the flats, and was named 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.
In doubles play, the duo of Ryan Smith and Miguel Muguruza went 6-3 in the fall while taking the doubles title at the Georgia Tech Fall Invitational.
The team had a strong showing in its final tune-up last week at the Key Biscayne Invitational, posting a 14-9 singles record and an 8-4 doubles record in matches against No. 2 Texas, No. 16 Michigan and No. 23 Alabama.
The Jackets will face seven teams in the top-30 this season, including defending national champion Georgia.
Admission to Sunday’s matches is free. Fans can follow each match through live stats at www. RamblinWreck.com.
