Jan. 24, 2010
ATLANTA – The 43rd ranked Georgia Tech men’s tennis team defeated No. 36 South Carolina, 6-1 in a battle of nationally-ranked teams on Sunday afternoon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
With the victory, Tech improved to 5-0 on the season, while South Carolina fell to 1-1 with the loss
“The most important part of today’s win was that every one of our guys went out and played to win,” said head coach Kenny Thorne. “They absolutely out there today believed that they could win and they played that way.”
“It was a great win for us today because I think the odds were against us,” said sophomore Dean O’Brien. “South Carolina was a couple of spot higher than us in the rankings and although we were 4-0, this was our first really big one. I think we really came through strong.”
Tech got things rolling in doubles action where they captured a the team point, as the team of Juan Spir and Miguel Muguruza clinched the point with a thrilling 8-6 win over South Carolina’s Alexander Kostanov and Johannes Pulsfort at number three doubles.
In the number two spot, Eliot Potvin and O’Brien had an easy 8-3 win over Pedro Campos and Ivan Cressoni of the Gamecocks. Meanwhile in the number one spot, Tech’s Guillermo Gomez and Eliot Potvin battled the No.24 ranked South Carolina tandem of Diego Cubas and Ivan Machado, before bowing out in a 9-8 decision.
In singles, the Yellow Jackets got off to a quick start when O’Brien earned a straight set (6-1, 6-3) victory over Pulsfort to give Tech a 2-0 lead in the match. Georgia Tech continued to ride the momentum at number two singles, as Potvin knocked off Campos in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) to make it 3-0.
Tech clinched the win in the number one spot, when the 4th ranked Gomez fought off South Carolina’s 48th ranked Cubas in a three set thriller (7-6, 2-6, 6-4).
“For us, this was a tough match, but we knew that we could win,” said Gomez. “We knew that we could do it and we went for it. I think everyone on our team did great.
“I think this match will set a tone for us”
South Carolina picked up their lone point of the match at the number four spot, as Machado was a straight set winner (7-5, 6-4) winner over Muguruza. In the final two matches of the afternoon, Tech’s Ducan Milijevic was a straight set (6-2, 6-4) over Kostanov, while freshman Magin Ortiga made quick work of Ivan Cressoni with a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Georgia Tech returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Gainesville, Fla. where they take on Penn State in the ITA National Kickoff Weekend event. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
South Carolina vs Georgia Tech
Jan 24, 2010 at Atlanta, Ga.
#43 Georgia Tech 6, #36 South Carolina
Singles competition
1. #4 Guillermo Gomez (GT) def. #48 Diego Cubas (SCAR) 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
2. Eliot Potvin (GT) def. Pedro Campos (SCAR) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Dean O’Brien (GT) def. Johannes Pulsfort (SCAR) 6-1, 6-3
4. Ivan Machado (SCAR) def. Miguel Muguruza (GT) 7-5, 6-4
5. Dusan Miljevic (GT) def. Alexander Kostanov (SCAR) 6-2, 6-4
6. Magin Ortiga (GT) def. Ivan Cressoni (SCAR) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #27 Diego Cubas/Ivan Machado (SCAR) def. Guillermo Gomez/Ryan Smith (GT) 9-8
2. Eliot Potvin/Dean O’Brien (GT) def. Pedro Campos/Ivan Cressoni (SCAR) 8-3
3. Miguel Muguruza/Juan Spir (GT) def. Alexander Kostanov/Johannes Pulsfort (SCAR) 8-6
Match Notes:
South Carolina 1-1; National ranking #36
Georgia Tech 5-0; National ranking #43
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)
Match played indoors.
T-5:30
