The top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis team won the first of two potential matches Thursday at the 2018 NAIA National Championships, defeating No. 16-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan University 5-0 in a Round of 16 match.

The Grizzlies (24-0) won their 79th consecutive match and remains a perfect 17-0 in matches at the NAIA National Championships, winning all national titles in all four years of postseason eligibility.

GGC won 21 of 22 games in doubles against Tennessee Wesleyan. Junior Ayed Zatar teamed with freshman Valentino Caratini for an 8-0 victory on the No. 3 court. Junior Rafael Coutinho and sophomore Federico Herrera Duran earned an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles. Senior Gilad Berman and sophomore Sergio Valinotti gave GGC a 3-0 lead with a shutout win at the top of doubles lineup.

That positive momentum carried over to singles play, with the team winning on the top two courts in straight-set fashion. Berman picked up a 6-1, 6-2 triumph on the No. 1 court and Coutinho clinched the victory by winning identical 6-2 set scores at No. 2 singles.

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to play a quarterfinal round match at 5 p.m. Thursday. That opponent will be determined by the outcome of other Round of 16 action.