Feb. 26, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech returns to action after a nearly two-week break when the Yellow Jackets visit 56th-ranked Tennessee in a 1 p.m. match Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.
TEAM UPDATE – Despite not playing last weekend, the Yellow Jackets (6-3) dropped 13 positions to No. 57 in this week’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association after beginning the spring at No. 43. Tech won three matches over No. 48 Auburn, Georgia State and Mercer, losing only two matches the entire weekend, in its last competition February 12-14. The Yellow Jackets started out 3-0 before suffering road losses to three ranked teams – No. 12 UCLA, No. 59 South Carolina and No. 11 Georgia. Tech is 2-2 against teams in the ITA top 50.
The Volunteers (5-3), ranked No. 56 nationally, have lost their last three matches, one to No. 54 Duke and two to No. 5 Wake Forest. Tennessee is the last of four Southeastern Conference foes on the Tech schedule.
SINGLES UPDATE – The Yellow Jackets are led at the top of their lineup by 6-foot-7 sophomore Christopher Eubanks (Atlanta, Ga.), who is 8-1 this spring and 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 his last two matches to improve to 4-5, 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 winning six of his eight decisions.
DOUBLES UPDATE – Tech has won the doubles point in every match except against No. 12 UCLA. Casey and Michael Kay, 3-2 in dual matches this spring playing the top position, are No. 41 in the ITA rankings after opening at No. 36. They are 3-4 against ranked teams this year. Benito and Eubanks have gone 5-0 at No. 2, while Li and Nathan Rakitt are 4-1 at No. 3.
HEAD COACH Kenny Thorne SAYS – “We need to play better on the road, and tomorrow we will have a chance to do so. Tennessee is a good team, so it will be a great test. We had some good practices this past couple of weeks, so it will be nice to get back to game day.”
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.
