[su_spacer size=”20″] The seventh-ranked Georgia men’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA Championships round of 16 with a 4-0 win over Florida State Saturday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (23-4) will take on the No. 9 seed Texas Longhorns Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m. ET in Waco, Texas.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia is now 100-32 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and this marks the Bulldogs’ 12th straight trip to the round of 16.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] “We did a tremendous job at all three doubles and all six singles,” said head coach Manuel Diaz. “I thought we played high-level tennis. We had great competition, and our guys rose to that level. It was probably as complete a match as we played all year, so I think we are ready going into the next round. Our guys worked hard for this, and I’m sure they’re not satisfied.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs won the doubles point for the 19th time this season to go ahead 1-0. At No. 3, Eric Diaz and Paul Oosterbaan beat Terrell Whitehurst and Terrance Whitehurst, 8-2, and the nation’s top-ranked pair of Austin Smith and Ben Wagland clinched the point with an 8-6 win over 16th-ranked Benjamin Lock and Marco Nunez at No. 1. UGA is 18-1 this season when it wins the doubles point.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In singles, Smith extended Georgia’s lead to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 101 Michael Rinaldi at No. 2. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in the No. 2 spot in 19 consecutive matches.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] Nathan Pasha, playing in his final home match, made it 3-0 with a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Nunez, then Wayne Montgomery clinched the victory with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Lock at No. 1. Georgia had also won first sets at Nos. 5 and 6.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Florida State ends its season at 20-11.
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[su_spacer size=”20″] The NCAA Championships will begin in at Baylor University Thursday with the men’s round of 16. The women’s round of 16 matches are slated for Friday, and the finals for both genders will be played Tuesday, May 19. The singles and doubles portion of the tournament will begin May 20. Georgia will be aiming for its seventh NCAA title.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Said Manuel Diaz: “It feels great going to Waco and making the round of 16 for the 12th year in a row. We’ll get over there and get used to the facility. It’s probably a little windier than we are accustomed to, so we have to adapt to all of those things. We are looking forward to getting over there Monday morning.”
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[su_spacer size=”20″] Tennis Match Results
Florida State vs Georgia
May 9, 2015 at Athens, Ga.
(Dan Magill Tennis Complex)
[su_spacer size=”40″] #7 Georgia 4, #27 Florida State 0
[su_spacer size=”40″] Singles competition
1. #24 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) def. #46 Benjamin Lock (FSU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #30 Austin Smith (UGA) def. #101 Michael Rinaldi (FSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #31 Nathan Pasha (UGA) def. Marco Nunez (FSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
4. Ben Wagland (UGA) vs. C. Gonzalez Mendez (FSU) 6-7 (5-7), 4-2, unfinished
5. Nick Wood (UGA) vs. Jose Gracia (FSU) 6-3, 6-6 (7-7), unfinished
6. Paul Oosterbaan (UGA) vs. Terrance Whitehurst (FSU) 6-4, 6-5, unfinished
[su_spacer size=”40″] Doubles competition
1. #1 Austin Smith/Ben Wagland (UGA) def. #16 Benjamin Lock/Marco Nunez (FSU) 8-6
2. Wayne Montgomery/Nathan Pasha (UGA) vs. C. Gonzalez Mendez/Jose Gracia (FSU) 7-6, unfinished
3. Eric Diaz/Paul Oosterbaan (UGA) def. Terrell Whitehurst/Terrance Whitehurst (FSU) 8-2
[su_spacer size=”40″] Match Notes:
Florida State 20-11; National ranking #27
Georgia 23-4; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,3,1)
NCAA Second Round Match
Official: Richard Rodgers Total Time-2:48; Doubles 50 minutes; A-900
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