Eagles Dispatch Wildcats 6-1 for Southern Conference Win

STATESBORO, GA ? Georgia Southern men's tennis upended Davidson for the first time since 2005 in a tight 6-1 Southern Conference contest Sunday afternoon (April 5) at the Hanner Tennis Complex. Georgia Southern improved to 7-7-1 overall and 3-3-1 in conference play with the win, while Davidson dropped its sixth straight to fall to 5-13, 1-6.

The Eagles opened the day taking a very heated doubles point with wins at the one and three seeds. Down early on all three courts, Georgia Southern battled back to overtake the Wildcats for the early team advantage. The top seeded Joris De Weerdt and Matthew Sands were tied at 4-all after Davidson took a 4-3 lead by Eric Noble and Walker Lyons, but a break from the Eagles put Georgia Southern on top 5-4. The Eagles took the next three games to close out the match with an 8-4 victory. Meanwhile, Davidson took an early 4-1 lead at court three and led 6-5 before Gregory Bekkers and Philip Prins took the next two games for a 7-6 advantage. The Eagle duo held serve at 7-6 to close out an 8-6 victory and secure the doubles point for Georgia Southern.

“Getting the doubles point was key today. It helped the energy moving into singles,” said head coach Justin Miles. “With the momentum from doubles, we won the first set on every court in singles. Overall I thought it was a good performance from the team.”

Georgia Southern overpowered Davidson in singles action, taking five contests in convincing fashion. Senior De Weerdt improved to 9-4 from the top singles position this season thanks to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Davidson's Noble. Freshman Edio Castanhel finished up second dropping David Warren in a 6-2, 6-0 fashion to put the Eagles on the brink of their second straight win.

With Georgia Southern already in command 3-0, Alain Garrido clinched the SoCon victory for the Eagles at the four seed over Calum Gee cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

Junior Bekkers then made it 5-1 with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 win over Scott Myers at the three seed. The Wildcats' lone point of the day came next, as Lyons topped Jayraj Jadeja in a third-set tiebreak, 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (5).

Classmate Justin Flynn finished play for the Eagles at number five. The junior took the first set 6-4 as back-to-back breaks in the second set made the match stand at 6-5 Georgia Southern favor. The Eagle served out the match at 40-30 to put the final touches on a 6-1 team victory.

Georgia Southern closes out its final homestand of the 2009 dual season on Wednesday, April 8. First serve against College of Charleston on senior day is slated for 2:30 p.m. at the Hanner Tennis Complex.

Georgia Southern 6, Davidson 1
Doubles:
1. Joris De Weerdt/Matthew Sands (GSU) d. Eric Noble (DAV) 8-4
2. Jayraj Jadeja/Justin Flynn (GSU) d. Calum Gee/Scott Myers (DAV) 9-8 (UNF)
3. Gregory Bekkers/Philip Prins (GSU) d. Brandon Byrd/David Warren (DAV) 8-6 *
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
*Clinched the doubles point

Singles:
1. Joris De Weerdt (GSU) d. Eric Noble (DAV) 6-0, 6-1
2. Walker Lyons (DAV) d. Jayraj Jadeja (GSU) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (5)
3. Gregory Bekkers (GSU) d. Scott Myers (DAV) 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
4. Alain Garrido (GSU) d. Calum Gee (DAV) 6-2, 6-3 *
5. Justin Flynn (GSU) d. Arie Hefter (DAV) 6-4, 7-5
6. Edio Castanhel (GSU) d. David Warren (DAV) 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 1, 6, 4, 3, 2, 5
*Clinched the match

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