Rock Hill, S.C. - The Georgia State men's tennis team (9-3) defeated Winthrop (2-5), 5-2, Saturday afternoon in Rock Hill, S.C. Sophomore Lucas Santana clinched the match at No. 6 singles with a straight sets victory.
The Panthers have won four straight matches to improve to 9-3 after winning four of the six singles matches.
"This was a big road victory for us. Winthrop went to the NCAA tournament last year and won their conference," said head coach Chase Hodges. "This team beat us last season so it was nice to get some payback."
Georgia State took two of the three doubles matches to claim the doubles point. Juan Pablo Gutierrez/Lucas Santana won 8-2 at No. 3 doubles to improve to 8-2 overall.
After a tough loss at No. 1 doubles, the Panthers were able to win 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. The team of Thomas Cook and Victor Valente has won four straight matches to improve to 4-1 in doubles.
Freshman Thomas Cook gave Georgia State a 2-0 lead after winning in straight sets at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-0. Cook remains a perfect 8-0 at No. 3 singles and 9-1 overall, including a four-match winning streak.
Winthrop cut GSU's lead to 2-1 after picking up a win at No. 1 singles in straight sets.
Sophomore Victor Valente won in straight sets at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-2. Valente improves to 9-3 and holds a perfect 5-0 record when playing the No. 2 flight.
Santana clinched the match with a straight sets win at No. 6 singles, 7-5, 6-3, and improved to 10-1 overall. He has won four straight matches.
Sophomore Vincent Verpeaux won the first set 6-3 but lost the second set 3-6, to set up a third set super tiebreaker at No. 4 singles. Verpeaux outlasted Nadav Ruppin, 10-7, in the super tiebreaker, to win his fourth straight match and improve to 10-2 overall.
In the final match of the day, junior Juan Pablo Gutierrez lost in three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 5 singles.
Georgia State returns to action tomorrow to take on Presbyterian College at 1 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.
