March 13, 2014

GGC 6, Armstrong Atlantic 3

In a near four-hour match, the Georgia Gwinnett men’s tennis team recorded the latest in a string of impressive victories by knocking off NCAA Division II No. 2 Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah on Thursday, 6-3.

The Grizzlies (11-0) remain unbeaten on the year, while Armstrong Atlantic, which has won three of the last six Div. II national championships, is now 6-3 this season.

The Grizzlies combined wins at second, third, fourth and sixth singles with doubles wins on the second and third lines.

Eight of the Grizzlies’ 11 wins have come against ranked opponents, with half of them coming against top 10 teams.

“I’m extremely proud of my guys,” said Grizzlies head coach Chase Hodges. “This is the biggest win in our short history. I have a ton of respect for Armstrong Atlantic as they have been a premier tennis program in the NCAA every year. Our guys gained a lot of confidence today.”

Despite dropping a close 8-5 decision at first doubles, GGC picked up a pair of 8-5 victories from the pairs of Bruno Tiberti/Mark Verryth and Matias Hatem/Connor Clements to take a narrow 2-1 lead into singles action.

The match went level after Mark Verryth was forced to retire in the second set of his match at first singles.

The Grizzlies jumped back in front with straight sets victories from Matias Hatem (6-1, 6-1) and Erik Moberg (6-2, 7-6 (4)) setting up and Bruno Tiberti’s 6-3, 7-5 win at third singles to clinch the match.

The remaining two matches split as Connor Clements fell in a close, three-set affair but Tony Kostadinov pulled out a three-setter of his own, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

“Bruno came up with a big clinch win for us at number three and Matias continues to dominate opponents,” added Hodges.

Hatem became the first Grizzly to double-digit singles wins this year at 10-0, while Moberg and Kostadinov improved to 9-0.

Georgia Gwinnett rounds out its trip to the Savannah area with a Saturday contest at SCAD Savannah at 2 p.m.