Sept. 13, 2014
THE FLATS – Two of Georgia Tech’s doubles teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division I draw Saturday, while Michael Kay and Eduardo Segura advanced to the round of 16 in Division II singles at the rain-interrupted Southern Intercollegiate Championships at the Dan MaGill Tennis Center.
Complete results, draw and schedule | Photo Gallery
Nathan Rakitt and freshman Christopher Eubanks, the third-seeded doubles team in the tournament, ousted Bartosz Sawicki and Luis Valero of Tennessee Saturday, 8-4, while Cole Fiegel and freshman Michael Kay defeated Kentucky’s Gus Benson and Kevin Lai by the same score in the top doubles draw. They moved into Sunday’s quarterfinal round, Rakitt and Eubanks facing Armstrong Atlantic’s Fernando Bogajo and Pablo Gor, and Fiegel and Kay taking on Cristian Gonzalez Mendez and Marco Nunez of Florida State.
“We had some good results in doubles today,” said Thorne, “but I’m looking forward to some fundamental doubles team practices in the near future.”
Meanwhile, Kay made the round of 16 in the Division II doubles draw with a 7-6, 6-2 win over Lander’s Marc Hofer. Segura outlasted Zack Lewis from the College of Charleston, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. Segura will take on Will Neuner of Florida Atlantic, while Kay meets Charlie Ghriskey of Charleston Sunday. Their round of 16 matches were postponed Saturday due to rain but will be played Sunday morning.
“Singles was mixed today,” said Thorne. “Michael Kay had his first college win after getting a good start up 5-2 in the first. He let his opponent back into the set, but was able to close out a tiebreaker. He finished strong. He is a great competitor and will grow with each college match. Eddie also didn’t close out a set when he was up 5-2 in the second set. He lost that set but went onto play a solid third set.”
All of Tech’s competitors in Division I singles were eliminated Saturday. Rakitt dropped a straight-set decision to Gor, while Eubanks lost in straight sets to the top seed and third-ranked Axel Alvarez Llamas of Oklahoma, and Carlos Benito lost in straight sets to Georgia’s Nick Wood.
“It was a tough day for the other guys in singles, but a couple of the matches were very competitive,” said Thorne. “Chris was playing one of the best players in the nation, and he competed well and pushed the guy deep into both sets. He just needs to be in that situation more, and he will finish stronger. Nathan has numerous opportunities in both sets, but lost three deuce points at the end of the match which could have turned it around.”
Rakitt, Fiegel and Daniel Yun have consolation matches scheduled for Sunday morning.
SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPSDan Magill Tennis Complex, Athens, Ga.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 RESULTS
Division I Singles – Round of 32 Pablo Gor (Armstrong State) def. #76 [6] Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech), 7-6 (4), 6-4 [1] Axel Alvarez Llamas (Oklahoma) def. Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech), 6-4, 7-5 [7] Nick Wood (Georgia) def. Carlos Benito (Georgia Tech), 6-2, 6-4
Division II Singles – Round of 32 Michael Kay (Georgia Tech) def. Marc Hofer (Lander), 7-6 (5), 6-2 Eduardo Segura (Georgia Tech) def. Zack Lewis (College of Charleston), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 Peter Bertran (Georgia) def. Elijah Melendez (Georgia Tech), 6-2, 6-2
Division I Doubles – Round of 16 [3] Christopher Eubanks/Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech) def. Bartosz Sawicki/Luis Valero (Tennessee), 8-4 Cole Fiegel/Michael Kay (Georgia Tech) def. Gus Benson/Kevin Lai (Kentucky), 8-4
SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 SCHEDULE
Division II Singles – Round of 16 Eduardo Segura (Georgia Tech) vs. Will Neuner (Florida Atlantic), 8 a.m. Michael Kay (Georgia Tech) vs. Charlie Ghriskey (College of Chatleston), 11:30 a.m.
Division I Doubles – Quarterfinals [3] Christopher Eubanks/Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech) vs. Fernando Bogajo/Pablo Gor (Armstrong Atlantic), not before 4:30 p.m. Cole Fiegel/Michael Kay (Georgia Tech) vs. Cristian Gonzalez Mendez/Marco Nunez (Florida State), not before 4:30 p.m.
Division I Singles – Consolation Cole Fiegel (Georgia Tech) vs. Simon Pritchard (Kennesaw State), 10 a.m. #76 [6] Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech) vs. [5] Ben Wagland (Georgia), 10:30 a.m.
Division II Singles – Consolation Daniel Yun (Georgia Tech) vs. Zack Zapatero (Davidson), 10:30 a.m.
About Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team is in its 17th year under head coach Kenny Thorne. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 14 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.
