The NAIA's No. 1-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis team showed no rust from a 24-day break in the schedule, picking up an impressive 6-1 victory against NCAA Division III Emory University (Georgia) on Thursday afternoon at the GGC Tennis Facility.

Senior Aleksandr Kalinin served out the No. 3 doubles match for a 6-4 victory to secure the doubles point and a 1-0 lead in the dual match. Junior Luis Francisco Sampedro kept the Grizzlies out in front of the deciding doubles match with a service hold at 4-3. Then, Kalinin recorded an ace on a deuce point to close out the 6-4 triumph.

"We were focused and fought for each game. In that last game, we got up 40-15 before, all of a sudden, it was tied at deuce (40-40). They (Emory) were returning (shots) really big at that point of the match. An ace is the perfect way to end any match," said Kalinin.

Senior Jeremias Rocco and junior Santiago Villarruel opened the action with a strong 6-2 triumph in doubles on the No. 1 court.

The Grizzlies rode the positive momentum into singles, winning the first set in five of the six matches. Four of the team's five wins were in straight sets.

Senior Andoni Garmendia extended the lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph on the No. 5 court. Rocco claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory at the top of the lineup for the team's third point of the dual match.

Kalinin clinched the victory with GGC's fourth point by identical 6-4 set scores at No. 4 singles. Francisco Sampedro rounded out the straight-set winners with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph on the No. 3 court.

Villarruel won a hard-fought three-set match at No. 2 singles, outlasting Emory's Dean Kamenev 6-3 in the deciding set. Villarruel took the opening set by a 6-2 score.

"Winning doubles was huge as it is in any match. We're a team with players that can play anywhere in the singles lineup. Every match was highly competitive. This was one of our best performances of the season," said Head Coach Hannah Keeling.
 
Coach's Corner
"We were ready for this match, especially considering it was a quality opponent like Emory. It was great to see everybody compete at full level today. This team has put the work in the last three weeks, building them up for Mobile (NAIA National Championship) at the end of the season," said Head Coach Hannah Keeling.
 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host SCAD Atlanta on Tuesday, April 8, at the GGC Tennis Facility, starting at 5 p.m.