From left, Georgia’s Ben Wagland and Georgia’s Austin Smith high-five during a doubles match of an NCAA match between Georgia and East Tennessee State University at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016. (Photo by David Barnes)
The No. 16 Georgia men’s tennis team (5-3) defended its home courts in its outdoor season opener on Sunday, winning the doubles point and five singles matches en route to a 6-1 victory over East Tennessee State (3-5) at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
“I thought our guys had a good week of practice and really came out prepared,” head coach Manuel Diaz said. “I thought that ETSU played a very good match. They’re deep and they’re well coached. Our guys could’ve played better, but it’s our first outdoor match so I thought that we had a great day overall out there.”
In doubles, Georgia was led by its fifth-ranked tandem of Ben Wagland and Austin Smith. The pair quickly dispatched the Buccaneers’ Ismael Merino and Diego Nunez 6-2 to give the Bulldogs the advantage. After falling 6-3 on court No. 2, Georgia rebounded to take the doubles point at No. 3.Wayne Montgomery and Emil Reinberg fell behind 3-0 early in the match before winning six of the final seven games to top ETSU’s Sebastian Yllera and Robert Herrera 6-4.
The Bulldogs picked up where they left off in singles, winning five of six first sets led by a trio of freshmen. Jan Zielisnki and Walker Duncan picked up Georgia’s first two victories in succession at Nos. 3 and 5, respectively. Zielinski was first off with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nunez while No. 104 Duncan quickly followed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Herrera. Reinberg, another freshman, provided the clinch for Georgia with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Merino.
Georgia picked up its final two points of the afternoon in third-set super tiebreakers victories at Nos. 4 and 2. Nick Wood gave the Bulldogs the 5-1 advantage with a 5-7, 7-5, 1-0(10-8) and Oosterbaan capped the day with a 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(10-8) victory.
Georgia will open Southeastern Conference play next weekend at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs will face Mississippi State on Friday at 2:30 p.m. followed by Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Tennis Match Results
East Tennessee State vs Georgia
Feb 28, 2016 at Athens, Ga.
(Dan Magill Tennis Complex)
#16 Georgia DEFEATS East Tennessee State (6-1)
Singles competition
1. David Biosca (ETSU) def. #21 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-7)
2. Paul Oosterbaan (UGA) def. Rogerio Ribeiro (ETSU) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Jan Zielinski (UGA) def. Diego Nunez (ETSU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Nick Wood (UGA) def. Sebastian Yllera (ETSU) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
5. #104 Walker Duncan (UGA) def. Robert Herrera (ETSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Emil Reinberg (UGA) def. Ismael Merino (ETSU) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. #5 Ben Wagland/Austin Smith (UGA) def. Ismael Merino/Diego Nunez (ETSU) 6-2
2. Rogerio Ribeiro/David Biosca (ETSU) def. Paul Oosterbaan/Jan Zielinski (UGA) 6-3
3. Wayne Montgomery/Emil Reinberg (UGA) def. Sebastian Yllera/Robert Herrera (ETSU) 6-4
Match Notes:
East Tennessee State 3-5
Georgia 5-3; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,5,6,1,4,2)
Official: Clark Weaver A-357