May 16, 2010
Lexington, Ky. – Eliot Potvin took a straight-set victory at No. 3 singles, but 24th-ranked Georgia Tech was eliminated from the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship with a 4-1 loss to No. 11 Kentucky Sunday at the Boone Tennis Complex.
Tech’s season ended with an 18-8 dual-match record, while Kentucky (24-6) advance to the round of 16 next Friday in Athens, Ga.
Potvin, a junior from Hampden, Maine, ranked No. 112 in the nation, defeated Brad Cox for the Yellow Jackets’ only point, which evened the match at 1-1 at the time it was completed.
The Wildcats started things off by taking the doubles point without a loss. Eric Quigley and Brad Cox, the nation’s No. 22-ranked tandem, handled No. 70 Kevin King and Juan Spir, 8-4, at No. 1, while No. 76 Alberto Gonzalez and Alex Lambropoulos got by Guillermo Gomez and Dean O’Brien, 8-6.
Eric Quigley, the 12th-ranked player in the nation, gave Kentucky back the lead with a 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 4 Guillermo Gomez at No. 1 singles, and Anthony Rossi got by Miguel Muguruza, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 4 to make the score 3-1.
Meanwhile, 49th-ranked Alex Musialek rallied from a first-set loss to take Tech’s Kevin King, ranked 85th, to a third set, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the match.
Though his team’s season is over, Gomez will play in the NCAA Singles Championship beginning May 26. The junior from Alicante, Spain, is seeded fourth.
Post-Match Quotes
Georgia Tech Head Coach Kenny Thorne
On his team’s performance …
“I have got to give credit to Kentucky. They came out in doubles and played really well. I felt that they set the tone in doubles and did a good job and outplayed us I felt like. In singles, they were in there in every single match and every time that we had an opportunity to get up in a match they seemed to have an answer. I think that we had a little bit of momentum but couldn’t sustain it.”
On if playing indoors affected the match …
“No, I think that it was equal for both teams.”
On the crowd and the atmosphere …
“Yeah, we had a great crowd and I think that it was a very fair crowd on both sides. It is always fun to play in front of a great crowd and I think that both teams competed a little bit better because of it.”
Kentucky Head Coach Dennis Emery
On what advancing to the Sweet 1 means to the Kentucky program …
“This is a big break through win for our program to get back to the Sweet 16. We have been in this situation several times and have not been able to finish off the job. This year’s team has a lot of character and it takes a lot of character because they (NCAA) do not give you this round. One thing that I am really, really pleased with is how Coach Cedric Kauffman has done a really great job to help us reach our goals. He has worked tirelessly to help us do that and I am really happy not just for our players but for him to do this.”
On gathering 25 wins, the most in school history …
“Getting the most wins in school history really does mean a lot to me. What it means is that we have been really consistent through the year. One thing that our players have done really well is that they have a lot of character and have matured through the year. They didn’t just give matches away. You don’t get to 25 wins by giving matches away so that speaks highly of them.”
On what Eric Quigley means to the UK team …
“Eric Quigley means a lot to this team because not only has he played great in singles but he has played great in doubles. He has just been a great leader at No. 1 because of the emotion and intensity that he brings to the court. There is all of those things that he brings that are positive. The best is that he doesn’t have to be the center of attention. He is just as happy when his teammates win and do their jobs and that, more importantly than anything else, is what he brings to this team.”
NCAA Lexington Regional – Second Round Match
Georgia Tech vs Kentucky
May 16, 2010 at Lexington, Ky.
#11 Kentucky 4, #24 Georgia Tech 1
Singles competition
1. #12 Eric Quigley (KY) def. #4 Guillermo Gomez (GT) 6-3, 6-4
2. #49 Alex Musialek (KY) def. #85 Kevin King (GT) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. #112 Eliot Potvin (GT) def. Brad Cox (KY) 6-4, 6-4
4. Anthony Rossi (KY) def. Miguel Muguruza (GT) 6-4, 6-3
5. Alberto Gonzalez (KY) vs. Magin Ortiga (GT) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
6. Alex Lambropoulos (KY) vs. Juan Spir (GT) 2-6, 3-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #22 Eric Quigley/Brad Cox (KY) def. #70 Kevin King/Juan Spir (GT) 8-4
2. #76 Alberto Gonzalez/Alex Lambropoulos (KY) vs. #52 Eliot Potvin/Ryan Smith (GT) 7-7, unfinished
3. Alex Musialek/Anthony Rossi (KY) def. Guillermo Gomez/Dean O’Brien (GT) 8-6
Match Notes:
Georgia Tech 18-8; National ranking #24
Kentucky 24-6; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,1,4,2)
