VIDEO: Post-win interview with Coach Nick Zieziula
STATESBORO, Ga. -- The Georgia Southern Men's Tennis team (4-3, 1-0) picked up their first conference and home win of the year when they defeated Wofford (2-6, 0-1) 6-1 at the Hanner Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles locked up the win within three hours of play and finished out the match with two more wins.
"Not only was it a win, but it was a comprehensive win. We played very well at every position," said Head Coach Nick Zieziula.
Great doubles play kick started the Eagles' match, claiming wins on all three courts. Sophomores Kyle Hoffman and Andrew Dromsky easily routed Graham Duncan and David Sklar on the third court, 8-3. Senior-junior duo Matthijs Verdam and Oliver Webb continued the hot streak with a 9-7 win over Jackson Keith and Parks Thompson on court one, before Freshman Rayane Djouad and junior Marco Osorio finished up the doubles sweep with a 9-7 over Rob Galloway and Walker Heffron on court one.
"The guys know the importance of starting off with that first point. It really puts us in a good position and it carries over into the way that we start our singles," said Zieziula. "I'm just proud of the way we competed and sticking with the goals we had been working on at those doubles courts even when things got a little hairy at one and two doubles."
Dromsky continued his strong match, giving the Eagles a 2-0 cushion after a quick 6-4, 6-2 win over Drew Superstein at the number two spot. Oliver Webb extended the lead to 3-0 when he won his match against Duncan on court five 6-4, 6-3. Djouad clinched the match for the Eagles with a two set 6-3, 7-5 victory over Heffron on court four.
Osorio and sophomore Albert Codina Sala delivered two more wins in hard fought matches on court five and three. Osorio needed a tiebreaker to claim the first set 7-6 (7-5) and added a 7-5 win in the second set, picking up his first singles win of the year. In a tiebreaker filled match, Codina Sala showed resilience and defeated Wofford's Jackson 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8).
"The big thing we've been focusing on all week is our mental toughness. When conditions change, whether that's a lead or going into a tiebreaker or being in a deficit, of sticking with our habits our how to manage our time in between points and what things to focus on. Our guys did a good job today at those critical times," said Zieziula.
The Eagles will pick up another non-conference match tomorrow (Sunday) at 1:30 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman at the Hanner Tennis Complex.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new “Eagles GATA” mobile app for Android and iOS.
Singles results
1. GALLOWAY, Rob (WOFM) def. Matthijs Verdam (GSUM) 6-3, 6-0
2. Andrew Dromsky (GSUM) def. SUPERSTEIN, Drew (WOFM) 6-4, 6-2
3. A. Codina Sala (GSUM) def. KEITH, Jackson (WOFM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-8)
4. Rayane Djouad (GSUM) def. HEFFRON, Walker (WOFM) 6-3, 7-5
5. Oliver Webb (GSUM) def. DUNCAN, Graham (WOFM) 6-4, 6-3
6. Marco Osorio (GSUM) def. THOMPSON, Parks (WOFM) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Order of finish: (2,5,1,4,6,3)
Doubles results
1. Rayane Djouad/Marco Osorio (GSUM) def. GALLOWAY, Rob/HEFFRON, Walker (WOFM) 9-7
2. Matthijs Verdam/Oliver Webb (GSUM) def. KEITH, Jackson/THOMPSON, Parks (WOFM) 9-7
3. Kyle Hoffman/Andrew Dromsky (GSUM) def. DUNCAN, Graham/SKLAR, David (WOFM) 8-3
Order of finish: (3,2,1)
