April 10, 2016
THE FLATS – Sophomore Christopher Eubanks earned a tough three-set victory on court 1 for the clinching point, and Georgia Tech celebrated its Senior Day Sunday by cruising past 40th-ranked Virginia Tech, 6-1, at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
The Yellow Jackets, bouncing back from a 5-2 loss to No. 3 Virginia Friday, improved to 15-6 overall and 8-3 in the ACC, looking ahead to their final regular season match Friday at top-ranked North Carolina. The Jackets are tied for third place. The Hokies fell to 14-7, 6-5 in the ACC.
Tech began by winning the doubles point with victories on court 3 from Andrew Li and Nathan Rakitt, who defeated Jai Corbett and Mitch Harper on court 3 by a 6-2 score, and from the Jackets’ 64th-ranked team of Carlos Benito and Christopher Eubanks, 6-4 winners of Amerigo Contini and Edoardo Tessaro.
The Yellow Jackets carried the momentum forward by winning the first set in five of the six singles matches, putting them in position for the rout even through four of the matches went to three sets.
Sophomore Daniel Yun quickly made it 2-0 for the Yellow Jackets by downing 83rd-ranked Edoardo Tessaro, 6-0, 6-3, on court 4, while freshman Andrew Li earned the Yellow Jackets’ third point with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Aaron Gomez on court 6.
Eubanks, ranked 12th in the nation, won his first set 6-4 against Joao Monteiro, but the Hokie senior battled back to win the second set 6-2. The Yellow Jacket sophomore regained his form in the third set and closed out a 6-3 win with an ace, clinching the match for the Jackets.
The Jackets continued the onslaught when Nathan Rakitt, celebrating senior day with teammate Casey Kay, downed Mitch Harper in three sets on court 5, and Cole Fiegel made it 6-0 with a three-set win on court 3. The Hokies got on the board in the last match to finish when 67th-ranked Andreas Bjerrehus outlasted Carlos Benito, 7-5, 6-7, 1-0 (10-6), on court 2.
HEAD COACH Kenny Thorne SAYS – “We ended the Virginia match well, and we knew this team was very good with four seniors one through four in their singles lineup. They hadn’t lost to anybody outside the top 25. The doubles point was key, and I liked how we bounced back and got the doubles point. Winning five first sets was big, but you know it’s going to be a battle with their seniors. We showed a lot of maturity, and I’m proud of our guys’ fight.”
NOTABLE – Georgia Tech completed its regular season home schedule with a 10-1 record … The Yellow Jackets won the doubles point for the 16th time in 21 matches … Benito and Eubanks improved to 12-3 this spring, Rakitt and Li to 10-5 … Yun improved to 6-5 in dual matches this spring, 5-4 in conference matches … Eubanks improved to 17-2 in dual matches this spring, including a 10-1 record in conference matches … Eubanks also improved his overall mark to 30-6, the most singles wins for a Tech player since 2010-11 and tying for the fourth most in in a season in program history … Rakitt won for the 11th time in his last 12 decisions and improved to 8-1 in ACC matches, 12-3 overall.
#31 Georgia Tech 6, #40 Virginia Tech 1
April 10, 2016 at Atlanta, Ga. (Ken Byers Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #12 Christopher Eubanks (GT) def. Joao Monteiro (VT) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2. #67 Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. Carlos Benito (GT) 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 1-0 (10-6)
3. Cole Fiegel (GT) def. #91 Amerigo Contini (VT) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
4. Daniel Yun (GT) def. #83 Edoardo Tessaro (VT) 6-0, 6-3
5. Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Mitch Harper (VT) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Andrew Li (GT) def. Aaron Gomez (VT) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #32 Casey Kay/Michael Kay (GT) vs. #13 Andreas Bjerrehus/Joao Monteiro (VT) 3-5, unfinished
2. #64 Carlos Benito/Christopher Eubanks (GT) def. Amerigo Contini/Edoardo Tessaro (VT) 6-4
3. Andrew Li/Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Jai Corbett/Mitch Harper (VT) 6-2
Match Notes
Virginia Tech 14-7, 6-5 ACC; National ranking #40
Georgia Tech 15-6, 8-3 ACC; National ranking #31
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,1,5,3,2)
Overcast, temperature 55 degrees, winds ESE 11 mph
T-2:25 A-200
