GSU Andrei Duarte Rob Grinvalds
Daniel Wilson
1
Tennessee Tech TTU (4-11)
6
Winner Georgia State GSUM (15-7)
Tennessee Tech TTU
(4-11)
1
Final
6
Georgia State GSUM
(15-7)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Panthers Close Out Regular Season with Victory Over Tennessee Tech, 6-1, on Senior Day

ATLANTA— Having secured the Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship with a victory over in-state rival Georgia Southern on Thursday, the No. 65 ITA ranked Georgia State men's tennis team closed out its regular season by defeating Tennessee Tech, 6-1, on Sunday. No. 65 GSU will enter postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the 2022 SBC Men's Tennis Championship Tournament looking to make a return trip to the conference tournament title match. 

Both closeout matches were highlighted by strong performances from seniors Vazha Shubladze, Andrei Duarte, Harvey Maughan and Patrick Lazo with a combined total of 10 wins amongst the seniors throughout each outing.

Shubladze posted consecutive wins at No. 3 singles including a three-set victory, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2, against Georgia Southern and a dominant win over Tennessee Tech in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, in his final match at home.

Fifth-year Duarte finished the week 3-0 with a pair of singles victories at the top court position and a decisive victory at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, on Sunday.

Coming off Sun Belt Player of the Week honors last week, Maughan collected No. 2 doubles victories in both matches and accounted for the match clinching point against Tennessee Tech at the fifth court.

Lazo accounted for the match deciding point facing Georgia Southern with a win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, at the No. 6 court position as well as a win in No. 3 doubles, 6-4, with partner Diego Padilha on Thursday.

Following the team's Senior Day ceremony at the GSU Clarkston Courts on Sunday, the Panthers entered the final outing at home with a one-sided team victory in doubles. GSU faithful watched in support of the Panthers as the team secured an early lead, 1-0, and finished the regular season winning 17 of 22 doubles points in dual match play.

No. 63 pair Duarte and partner Roberts Grinvalds downed opponents at the top court, 6-1, while Maughan and partner Kevin Huynh secured a win, 6-1, at the second court. Having returned to compete for a fifth year with the Panthers, Huynh also closes out his tenure with GSU by posting a 3-0 record in singles and doubles competition over the weekend.

Singles play saw Shubladze make quick work of his opponent at the No. 3 court position with the straight-set victory as GSU took a 2-0 advantage. Duarte collected the team's third point with a win at the top court, 7-6, 6-2.

Maughan's victory, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 5 court position clinched the victory for GSU and extended the team's lead to 4-0. Playing out the match, Grinvalds downed his opponent at the No. 2 position in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6, while Huynh posted a win, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5, at the No. 4 position as the Panthers defeated Tennessee Tech, 6-1, and finished the season at 15-7 overall.

No. 65 GSU will enter the SBC Championship Tournament at Peachtree City Tennis Center in Peachtree City, Ga. on Friday, April 15. Earning the top seed in the tournament after claiming the regular season title with a 5-1 league record, the Panthers will receive a bye to the semifinal round and will play the winner of Coastal Carolina and Troy.

Matches will be broadcast on ESPN+. More information is set to be released later in the week leading up to the championship tournament in Peachtree City. 

Follow the Georgia State men's tennis team on Twitter and Instagram (@GSUMTennis) for additional news and updates as the Panthers enter postseason play.


 
Print Friendly Version