ATLANTA - The Georgia State men's tennis team won a pair of matches Friday at Piedmont Park, defeating UAB, 4-3, and then Morehouse, 7-0. The win over Morehouse was GSU's school-record 20th victory of the season.
Georgia State has won five straight matches to improve to 20-5, surpassing the 19 victories recorded by the 2007 Panthers.
"UAB tested us on every level and the guys responded," said head coach Chase Hodges. "It feels great to break the all-time wins record at Georgia State University. Our guys have earned it and I'm very proud of them."
"I'm especially proud of Lucas Santana for coming through with a great clinch today," added Hodges.
GEORGIA STATE 4, UAB 3
With the overall match tied at 3-3, Santana was able to pull out a three-set victory at No. 6 singles 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, against Chris Helliar. Santana trailed 2-3 in the final set before winning four straight games to clinch the match and improve to 19-5 in singles.
Georgia State claimed the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Santana and Juan Pablo Gutierrez and won 8-4 at No. 3 doubles against Lucas Dirube and Daniel Moser. Gutierrez and Santana, who improved to a team-best 15-6, were leading 5-4 before winning three straight games to close the match.
Breon Badger and Vincent Verpeaux won 8-6 at No. 2 doubles against Danny Manlow and Chris Helliar. Badger and Verpeaux earned a break leading 7-6 to clinch the doubles point.
UAB earned its lone victory at No. 1 doubles when David Zimmerman and Tom Puetz won 8-3 against Victor Valente and Thomas Cook.
Valente gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead after winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 singles against Lucas Dirube. Valente improved to 18-4 in singles.
UAB cut the lead to 2-1 after Daniel Moser won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles against Gutierrez.
Verpeaux increased the Panthers lead to 3-1 after winning in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), against Tom Puetz at No. 5 singles. Verpeaux was trailing 6-2 in the tiebreaker before winning six straight points to earn his team-leading 21st win. Verpeaux has won five straight matches and is 21-3 in singles.
The Blazers earned a point at No. 3 singles when Manlow won in the third set 3-6, 6-3, 2-0, against Breon Badger. Badger had to retire in the third set after trailing 2-0.
UAB tied the match at 3-3 when David Zimmerman won in the third set 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1, against Thomas Cook. Cook won the first set tiebreaker 7-4 before losing the next two sets.
GEORGIA STATE 7, MOREHOUSE 0
ATLANTA - Georgia State's Trenton Spinks won in straight sets at No. 3 singles to give the Panthers their fifth straight win with a 7-0 sweep against Morehouse in the second match of the day at Piedmont Park.
With the Panthers leading 3-0, Spinks clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-0, victory against Johan Oliver at No. 3 singles.
Georgia State won all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Thomas Cook and Victor Valente won 8-0 at No. 1 doubles.
Juan Pablo Gutierrez and Lucas Santana won 8-0 at No. 3 doubles. Vincent Verpeaux and Trenton Spinks won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
Gutierrez gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead after winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-0, at No. 4 singles to improve to 15-7 in singles.
Verpeaux won in straight sets at No. 5 singles 6-0, 6-0, to improve to a team-leading 22-3 in singles.
After Spink's clincher, Valente won in straight sets at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0, to improve to 19-4 in singles.
Cook made the score 6-0 GSU after winning 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2 singles and improved to 15-8 in singles.
In the final match of the day, Santana won 6-0, 6-1, at No. 6 singles to complete the sweep and improved to 20-5.
Georgia State faces Middle Tennessee State Sunday at 10 a.m.
-GeorgiaStateSports.com-
