Jan. 31, 2010
Gainesville, Fla. – Sophomore Dusan Miljevic rallied after losing the first set, closing out Penn State’s Guillaume St. Maurice, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final and clinching match as Georgia Tech defeated Penn State, 4-2, late Saturday night in first round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex at the University of Florida.
Tech, ranked No. 39 in the nation, remained undefeated this spring (6-0) and advances to face No. 11 Florida at 1 p.m. Sunday, from which the winner will advance to the ITA National Indoor Championship in two weeks. Florida defeated Furman Saturday.
“We had a long day waiting to play because of the rain,” said head coach Kenny Thorne. “The conditions were difficult with it being so late as well as it was misting the entire match. I was very proud of the guys dealing with the conditions and being positive. They played with a lot of heart and played to win. We have a good opportunity tomorrow against Florida. We are headed to bed and will be ready to fight tomorrow.”
Miljevic, a sophomore from Novi Sad, Serbia, ranked No. 112 in the nation, won the match at the No. 5 position after St. Maurice saved three match points in the third set.
In a match delayed all day by bad weather, singles matches were played first, and the doubles matches were to be played only if the match was not decided in singles. Tech dropped the first match at No. 4 when Warren Hardie tagged Dean O’Brien with his first loss of the spring, 6-3, 6-3.
Freshman Magin Ortiga evened the match at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6 over Bryan Welnetz. Junior Eliot Potvin put the Jackets up 2-1, getting by Jason Lee in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, remaining undefeated in singles for the spring in the process.
Eddie Bouchier even the match again for Penn State with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Tech freshman Juan Spir. Junior Guillermo Gomez, the nation’s No. 5 player, put Tech on top 3-2 in the match with a straight-set victory over Ryan Gormley, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND
Gainesville, Fla.
Match Results – Georgia Tech 4, Penn State 2
Singles Matches
No. 1 – Guillermo Gomez (GT) def. Ryan Gormley, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
No. 2 – Eddie Bourchier (PSU) def. Juan Spir, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 – Eliot Potvin (GT) def. Jason Lee, 6-4, 6-0
No. 4 – Warren Hardie (PSU) def. Dean O’Brien, 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 – Dusan Miljevic (GT) def. Guillaume St. Maurice*, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Magin Ortiga (GT) def. Bryan Welnetz, 6-1, 6-2
* Clinched victory
Match Notes:
Records: Georgia Tech 6-0, Penn State 2-1
Order of Finish: Doubles: Singles: 4, 6, 3, 2, 1, 5
Doubles matches not played
On Court 5, St. Maurice saved three match points before Miljevic came through with the clincher.
Sunday’s Schedule 11 a.m. – Penn State vs. Furman
1 p.m. – Georgia Tech vs. Florida
