March 10, 2016
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THE FLATS – Georgia Tech continues its opening four-match road stretch in the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend as the No. 42 Yellow Jackets visit Louisville Friday at 4 p.m. and 27th-ranked NC State Sunday at noon.
TEAM UPDATE — Georgia Tech (8-4) has won five of its last six matches overall and split its opening weekend in ACC play, falling 5-2 at No. 7 Wake Forest and capturing a come-from-behind 4-3 win at No. 57 Duke. The Yellow Jackets also have dominant non-conference wins over Auburn, 6-1, and Tennessee, 4-0, both of whom were ranked in the 50s when the Yellow Jackets faced them, and are No. 42 in this week’s ITA rankings. Tech started out 3-0 before suffering road losses to three ranked teams — No. 12 UCLA, No. 59 South Carolina and No. 11 Georgia.
Louisville is 7-7 after dropping two matches in its opening weekend of conference play. The Cardinals were shut out by fourth-ranked Virginia, 7-0, at home and lost 5-2 to No. 38 Notre Dame in South Bend. NC State is 12-7 overall and 1-1 in the ACC after losing 6-1 at Virginia Tech and beating the Demon Deacons 4-3 at home last weekend.
SINGLES UPDATE — The Yellow Jackets are led at the top of their lineup by 6-foot-7 sophomore Christopher Eubanks (Atlanta, Ga.), who is 11-1 this spring, won his last five matches in a row and is ranked No. 12 in the nation. His only loss came against Georgia’s Wayne Montgomery, ranked No. 20.
Junior Carlos Benito (Madrid, Spain) has won four of his last five matches to improve to 6-6, playing mostly at No. 2. Head coach Kenny Thorne has shuffled players at the other four positions, with freshman Andrew Li (Hong Kong) finding the most success by compiling a 6-4 dual-match record while playing at five different positions in the lineup. Sophomore Daniel Yun (Marietta, Ga.) gave the Yellow Jackets a big lift last weekend by winning both of his matches, his first in ACC competition, to improve to 3-1 this spring.
DOUBLES UPDATE — Tech has won the doubles point in 10 of 12 dual matches this spring, many times on the strength of their play at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Benito and Eubanks began the spring 6-0 playing in the No. 2 position, but moved up to No. 1 at Duke and won again. Li and Nathan Rakitt have won seven straight at No. 3 since a loss to No. 12 UCLA.
Casey and Michael Kay, ranked No. 41, are 3-3 in dual matches this spring playing the top position, but moved down to No. 2 for the Duke match, getting a no-decision.
HEAD COACH Kenny Thorne SAYS — “We have another road trip with an opportunity to deepen our toughness. We are looking for consistent fight and execution in both matches. Our team showed some resolve in our last match, and we will need everyone this weekend to show the same resolve. Louisville and NC State are coached well and will be tough but we will be ready.”
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S TENNIS
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team is in its 18th year under head coach Kenny Thorne. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 15 times. Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_MTEN). For more information on Tech men’s tennis, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
