April 4, 2013
THE FLATS – After earning its first ACC win of the spring season, Georgia Tech returns home for its final two home matches of the dual season this weekend, hosting North Carolina (7-10, 0-4 ACC) at 4 p.m. Friday and 9th-ranked Duke (16-4, 4-1 ACC) at 12 noon Sunday at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Seniors Juan Spir, one of the top doubles players on Tech history, and Juan Melian will play their final home matches as Yellow Jackets. Admission for both matches is free, and parking for fans is available in the McCamish Pavilion lot, accessible from 10th and 8th Streets.
“It’s amazing that we are already finishing our home matches this weekend,” said Tech head coach Kenny Thorne. “It will be the final opportunity for fans to see two of the tennis team’s more successful student-athletes in Juan Spir and Juan Melian. Both of these guys have done an incredible job of developing on court and off. Juan Melian has done an incredible job of playing at or near the top of the lineup this year in singles and Juan Spir is arguably the best doubles player to come through Georgia Tech. They both have represented Georgia Tech extremely well.”
Tech (8-10, 1-4 ACC) has not played since March 28, when it took a 6-1 victory over Boston College on the road. Three of the Yellow Jackets’ losses on conference play have come by 4-3 scores.
“We have a tough last home stand in UNC and Duke, but I expect a lot of energy and some great matches,” Thorne added. “UNC has always been a great match and Duke is coming in with one of the top teams in the nation. It will be some great tennis.”
Spir, from Medellin, Colombia, has become perhaps the top doubles player in Georgia Tech history, winning USTA/ITA Southeast Regional championships and advancing to the USTA/ITA Nationals with two different partners. He has set a Tech record for doubles victories in a career, compiling a 100-42 mark in four years, and also has racked up 76 singles victories. A member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, he will finish his degree in International Affairs this spring.
Melian, from Las Palmas Spain, began his career at Georgia Southern University, where he went undefeated and was named Southern Conference Player of the Year. Since coming to Tech, he has compiled a singles record of 38-22 and worked is way up to the top spot in the Yellow Jackets’ lineup and also become a solid doubles player. A member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, he will complete his requirements for a his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering this summer.
