Five seasons of postseason play have resulted in five NAIA national championship titles for the Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis program – the latest coming with a resounding 5-0 victory against No. 2-seeded Keiser University (Fla.) Saturday afternoon at the Mobile Tennis Center.
The Grizzlies closed out play in this year's national championships by not losing a single point in four rounds of matches.
GGC players and coaching staff chanted "Dynasty" after the team wrapped up the latest championship.
"We have a special group of players. Five in a row is a special feat," said Head Coach Chase Hodges. "I am super proud of the guys. Every opponent gives us their best and even with those stiff challenges we continue to win at a high level."
The Grizzlies set a winning pace early by dominating all three doubles matches.
The senior tandem of Kevin Konfederak and Gilad Berman won eight of 10 games to grab the first point of the match.
"The first point is always huge, giving us momentum for the rest of the match," noted Hodges. "We have put a lot of emphasis on doubles in practice. We make life easy on us with strong doubles play."
Junior Ayed Zatar and freshman Valentino Caratini gave GGC a 2-0 lead with an 8-5 triumph on the No. 3 doubles court. Junior Rafael Coutinho and sophomore Federico Herrera Duran followed with an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.
"It is an amazing feeling to win a national championship," said Zatar. "We knew we had the components to win the title. The way we grinded back from an early deficit in doubles is what this team is about."
In singles, Zatar picked up a straight-set triumph on the No. 3 court for the match's fourth point. Then, Berman captured the clinching point with a service ace.
And the celebration was on for the Grizzlies.
"I'm super happy, but also sad knowing this was my last collegiate tennis match," said Konfederak, who won his 14th individual or team national title. "To win a national championship the same week that you graduate from college is a moment I will always remember."
Berman was named the national championships' Most Outstanding Player while Hodges was once again named the NAIA Coach of the Year.
"I am really happy for Gilad," said Hodges. "I love all of my players, but to have a senior clinch the point and to have the career he has had is remarkable."
