Men's Tennis | 2/26/2016 8:59:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga.- Winning 4-1, the Georgia Southern men's tennis team pulled out a victory at their season home opener against Nicholls State on Friday afternoon.

Although the Eagles started off strong in doubles, the Colonels fought back to gain the 1-0 advantage after winning at lines one and three.

"We came out strong, and we had a good crowd; we put ourselves in a position to win the doubles point, but the credit goes to Nicholls State," head coach Sander Koning said. "They were down and kept fighting, and they were able to keep their momentum going to take the doubles point from us."

However, the team didn't let that inhibit them in singles as they won four matches in a row. Freshman Andre Johnson and sophomore Eddie Landin finished off their opponents early each winning 6-4, 6-0. At line four, Ze Moya took down Oleksander Podgursky 6-2, 6-3.

"I'm really happy with the way our guys responded after doubles with the energy they came out with and the determination to excel in singles and making sure (Nicholls State) knows whose house this is," Koning said. 

Once again, senior Rise Lanne pulled out a win at the No.1 position, this time clinching the match with his 6-3, 6-4 win over Evan Karatzas. On top of winning his doubles match with Dani Casablancas, he extended his undefeated spring singles record to seven matches.

RESULTS
Georgia Southern 4, Nicholls State 1
Singles competition
1. Rise Lanne (GS) def. Evan Karatzas (NICM) 6-3, 6-4
2. JC Alcala (GS) vs. Kieran Cronin (NICM) 2-6, 7-6, unfinished
3. Eddie Landin (GS) def. Max Sinn (NICM) 6-4, 6-0
4. Ze Moya (GS) def. Oleksander Podgursky (NICM) 6-2, 6-3
5. Daniel Casablancas (GS) vs. Sam Meessen (NICM) 5-7, 4-1, unfinished
6. Andre Johnson (GS) def. Oscar Reeve (NICM) 6-4, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Oleksander Podgursky/Kieran Cronin (NICM) def. Nico de Groof/Eddie Landin (GS) 7-6, 7-4
2. Rise Lanne/Daniel Casablancas (GS) def. Evan Karatzas/Oscar Reeve (NICM) 6-4
3. Bernard Wezeman/Sam Meessen (NICM) def. Ze Moya/JC Alcala (GS) 6-2
 
QUOTABLES FROM COACH KONING
"We pride ourselves in being a physical and competitive team. We want the other teams to know that they're going to have bring their A-game or we're going to take you. That's what I saw today, especially after doubles, guys not letting up. We had a couple of guys that lost the first set but they kept fighting. JC (Alcala) and Dani (Casablancas) didn't let up and made sure we were still in it.I told the guys that JC's point to take it to the third set was huge because that kept Nicholls State from getting on the board.
"I'm happy we had a good crowd and people came out to watch us play. We really appreciate it and we hope to see more of it."
 
UP NEXT
This weekend, the Eagles play two matches on Sunday—one at 9 a.m. against Jacksonville State and one against SCAD at 2 p.m.
 
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