The NAIA's No. 2-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis team scored an impressive 4-3 road triumph against NCAA Division II No. 10 University of North Georgia in Friday afternoon's 2026 season opener in Dahlonega, Georgia, that marked the debut of Head Coach Tom Rees in leading the successful program.

The Grizzlies won the critical doubles point as seniors Santiago Villarruel and Luis Francisco Sampedro, the reigning NAIA national champion team, collected a 7-5 victory on the No. 1 court. Senior Francisco Perez Esnaola teamed with sophomore Gian Durrer for a 6-4 triumph at No. 2 doubles for the other crucial doubles triumph.

The tense doubles action paved the way for GGC to score the season-opening win as the teams split the six singles matches.

Making his GGC debut, freshman Yerassyl Yerdilda doubled the visitors' lead with a straight-set 6-2, 6-3 victory on the No. 2 court. North Georgia rallied to even the match, at 2-2, following a straight-set win at No. 1 singles and a three-set triumph on the No. 3 court. The Night Hawks took a 3-2 lead following another three-set victory on the No. 4 singles court.

The Grizzlies rebounded with junior Kanan Gasimov winning by identical 7-5 set scorers on the No. 6 court. Then, senior Juan Carlos Garcia rallying from a first set loss to complete the comeback with 7-5 scores in the second and third sets at No. 5 singles.

Coach's Corner
"It was great to start the season against a strong North Georgia team. It gave us an opportunity to assess where we're at early in the season and think about how we need to continue to improve in preparation for the upcoming NAIA Indoor National Championship. I'm pleased to see the team come through with the match victory as multiple players made their debut as Grizzlies," said Head Coach Tom Rees.
 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to host Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Georgia) on Wednesday, February 4, at the GGC Tennis Facility, starting at 1 p.m.