Emmanuel Nkoueleue Leads Men's Tennis at Georgia Tech Fall Invitational

ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia Southern’s Emmanuel Nkoueleue finished strong at the Georgia Tech Fall Tournament this past weekend, falling in the “A” singles consolation championship at the Bill Moore Tennis Center in Atlanta, Ga.

Nkoueleue, a senior from Douala, Cameroon, lost in the opening round of “A” singles competition to eventual “A” singles champion Guillermo Gomez of Georgia Tech. Nkoueleue would rebound from his early defeat as he downed Furman’s Sawyer Duncan 6-3, 6-4. He then took out Miguel Muguruza and Ryan Smith both of Georgia Tech, before falling in three sets 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 to Christian Vitulli of Georgia in the championship match.

"Overall it was a pretty successful weekend,” said coach Justin Miles. “We made a good showing for GSU playing against a lot of good competition.”

Eagles junior Joris De Weerdt (Mortsel, Belguim) was also defeated in the opening round of the “A” singles bracket. De Weerdt would go on to defeat Scotty Meyers of Davidson 6-4, 6-3. De Weerdt was defeated in the quarterfinal round by Vitulli.

Georgia Southern also had a strong showing in “B” singles action, as sophomore Borja Malet (Barcelona, Spain) made it all the way to the semifinal match in the “B” singles consolation division. Malet was defeated by Georgia Tech’s George Gvelesiani 7-6(5), 7-5 in the semi’s.

In doubles play, the tandem of Gregory Bekkers (Antwerp, Belgium) and De Weerdt breezed through the “B” doubles division. The duo would take their game all the way to the semifinal round where they were defeated 9-8(3) by the team of Alex Hill and Chris Motes of Georgia.

“This weekend shows that we have a really good team that can win against anybody,” said Miles. “We do need to learn from this weekend and take advantage of our opportunities to close out matches." 

The Eagles will continue their season next Friday, October 12 at the North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla.

“A” Singles Bracket

(First Round) Guillermo Gomez (GT) d. Emmanuel Nkoueleue (GSU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

(First Round) Matt Brewer (Tennessee) d. Joris De Weerdt (GSU), 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2

“A” Singles Consolation

(First Round) Emmanuel Nokueleue (GSU) d. Sawyer Duncan (Furman), 6-3, 6-4

(First Round) Joris De Weerdt (GSU) d. Scotty Meyers (Davidson), 6-4, 6-3

(Quarterfinal) Emmanuel Nkoueleue (GSU) d. Miguel Muguruza (GT), 6-2, 6-1

(Quarterfinal) Christian Vitulli (UGA) d. Joris De Weerdt (GSU), 7-5, 6-1

(Semifinal) Emmanuel Nkoueleue (GSU) d. Ryan Smith (GT), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

(Finals) Christian Vitulli (UGA) d. Emmanuel Nkoueleue (GSU), 6-2, 1-6, 7-5

“A” Doubles

(First Round) Malet/Nkoueleue (GSU) d. Davison/Novak (MTSU), 8-3

(Quarterfinal) Bernstein/Varela (UGA) d. Malet/Nkoueleue (GSU), 8-6

“B” Singles

(First Round) Chris Motes (UGA) d. Gregory Bekkers (GSU), 6-2, 6-1

(First Round) Alex Lambropoulos (UK) d. Borja Malet (GSU), 6-4, 6-2

“B” Singles Consolation

(First Round) Borja Malet (GSU) d. Andy Pulido (Vandy), 6-4, 6-3

(First Round) Alex McCann (MTSU) d. Gregory Bekkers (GSU), 6-4, 7-5

(Quarterfinal) Borja Malet (GSU) d. Morten Silversten (UL), 7-5, 7-5

(Semifinal) George GvelesIani (GT) d. Borja Malet (GSU), 7-6(5), 7-5

 “B” Doubles

(First Round) Bekkers/De Weerdt (GSU) d. Beck/Lambropoulos (UK), 8-6

(Quarterfinal) Bekkers/De Weerdt (GSU) d. Lieberman/Moye (Vandy), 8-3

(Semifinal) Hill/Motes (UGA) d. Bekkers/De Weerdt (GSU) 9-8(3)

Category: Men's Tennis

Published on Monday, 08 October 2007 00:03