What you need to know
* The Panthers went 3-0 at the FSU Invite, defeating the Noles 4-2 in the championship match.
* Sophomore Jack MacFarlane clicnhed the match in the tie-breaker set.
* The team will return to the court on Jan. 22 to face the Commodores at Vanderbilt.
TALLAHASSEE- The Georgia State men's tennis team defeated No. 27 Florida State for the team's second biggest win in program history. Sophomore Jack MacFarlane clinched the match for the Panthers' biggest win since 2007, when the team defeated No. 23 Old Dominion.
GSU started off slow, conceding the doubles point to the Seminoles. Sebastian Acuna and Andrei Andrukhou fell in the No. 2 match 6-2 to Lucas Pollain and Jose Garcia, while Zackery Kennedy and Jannis Koeke fell 6-3 to Guy Iradukunda and Aziz Dougaz. Quentin Coulaud and Felipe Jaworski's match went unfinished due to the FSU clinch.
In singles play, Koeke fell 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 1 match to Dougaz to put GSU down 2-0. Andrukhou was the first Panther to earn a point, defeating Garcia 7-5, 6-3. Kennedy tied the match with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over No. 59 Iradukunda, before Acuna edged the score to 3-2 with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Terrance Whitehurst.
MacFarlane clinched the match with a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Terrell Whitehurst in the tie-breaker set. Coulaud's match went unfinished due to the clinch.
“This was definitely a great start to our season and I couldn't be more proud of our guys,” head coach Brett Ross said. “I thought we got better every match this weekend and we showed that we were strong at all spots in the lineup. I think this shows the team what we are capable of and it should inspire us to work hard as we get ready for more big matches during the rest of the season.”
The Panthers will return to the court on Jan. 22 when they face Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Final Results
Doubles:
1. Guy Iradukunda/Aziz Dougaz (FS) def. Zackery Kennedy/Jannis Koeke (GSU) 6-3
2. Lucas Poullain/Jose Gracia (FS) def. Sebastian Acuna/Andrei Andrukhou (GSU) 6-2
3. Quentin Coulaud/Felipe Jaworski (GSU) def. Terrell Whitehurst/Terrance Whitehurst (FS) 4-3
Singles:
1. #71 Aziz Dougaz (FS) def. Jannis Koeke (GSU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Zackery Kennedy (GSU) def. #59 Guy Iradukunda (FS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Quentin Coulaud (GSU) vs. Lucas Poullain (FS) no result
4. Andrei Andrukhou (GSU) def. Jose Gracia (FS) 7-5, 6-3
5. Sebastian Acuna (GSU) def. Terrance Whitehurst (FS) 6-4, 6-4
6. Jack MacFarlane (GSU) def. Terrell Whitehurst (FS) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
