Men?s Tennis Completes Opening Day at Southern Intercollegiate Championships
9/25/2010 4:10:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. – Senior Thomas Bekkers (Antwerp, Belgium) opened the 2010 fall season with a first round win at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships Friday (September 24). The Georgia Southern Men's Tennis team ushered in the new season at America's oldest fall collegiate tournament, contested on the campus of the University of Georgia.
“Our execution was not where it needed to be today, but I was proud of the team for how well they competed,” stated Head Coach Nick Zieziula. “We learned a lot about ourselves today and that is what the fall season is all about.”
Competing in Division III singles, Bekkers began his senior campaign notching a three-set victory over Mercer's John Bauerle. Bekkers regrouped after dropping the first set to claim the win with 6-3, 6-0 second and third set wins. The senior fell in the second round to Garrison Laduca of Samford in straight sets. Also competing in Division III, Alex Yuille (Epsom, England) dropped a 6-1,6-2 decision to Georgia State's Juan Gutierrez. Yuille will now face David Roberts of LSU in consolation action.
Sophomore Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) suffered a tight three-set match to Vanderbilt's Bryant Salcedo in Division I singles action. The Eagle took the second set over Salcedo, 7-6 (2), forcing a deciding third set, but fell, 6-3. Melian Puigventos will face Radford's Stijn Meelemans in consolation play on Saturday.
Matthijs Verdam (Hilversum, The Netherlands) received a first round bye and challenged Tristan Stayt of Liberty in a second round matchup. Verdam pushed Stayt, but suffered a 6-4, 7-6 loss in Division II action. Verdam will meet Hans Adrian Rinseng of Stetson in consolation action.
Georgia Southern played one doubles match on the opening day of competition. Facing off against top-seeded Juan Spir and Kevin Kling of Georgia Tech, the 43rd ranked duo in the nation, Melian Puigventos and Verdam battled the Yellow Jacket pair to the wire, but fell, 8-4, in Division I action.
Day two action begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday and will feature two rounds of doubles action and three rounds of singles competition.
“Our execution was not where it needed to be today, but I was proud of the team for how well they competed,” stated Head Coach Nick Zieziula. “We learned a lot about ourselves today and that is what the fall season is all about.”
Competing in Division III singles, Bekkers began his senior campaign notching a three-set victory over Mercer's John Bauerle. Bekkers regrouped after dropping the first set to claim the win with 6-3, 6-0 second and third set wins. The senior fell in the second round to Garrison Laduca of Samford in straight sets. Also competing in Division III, Alex Yuille (Epsom, England) dropped a 6-1,6-2 decision to Georgia State's Juan Gutierrez. Yuille will now face David Roberts of LSU in consolation action.
Sophomore Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) suffered a tight three-set match to Vanderbilt's Bryant Salcedo in Division I singles action. The Eagle took the second set over Salcedo, 7-6 (2), forcing a deciding third set, but fell, 6-3. Melian Puigventos will face Radford's Stijn Meelemans in consolation play on Saturday.
Matthijs Verdam (Hilversum, The Netherlands) received a first round bye and challenged Tristan Stayt of Liberty in a second round matchup. Verdam pushed Stayt, but suffered a 6-4, 7-6 loss in Division II action. Verdam will meet Hans Adrian Rinseng of Stetson in consolation action.
Georgia Southern played one doubles match on the opening day of competition. Facing off against top-seeded Juan Spir and Kevin Kling of Georgia Tech, the 43rd ranked duo in the nation, Melian Puigventos and Verdam battled the Yellow Jacket pair to the wire, but fell, 8-4, in Division I action.
Day two action begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday and will feature two rounds of doubles action and three rounds of singles competition.
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