The NAIA's top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis recorded a pair of victories against NCAA Division I The Citadel (South Carolina), winning dual matches by 7-0 and 5-1 scores Friday afternoon at the GGC Tennis Facility.

The Grizzlies (15-0) started strong by winning the doubles point in the first match of the day. Senior Juan Carlos Garcia teamed with freshman Yerassyl Yerdilda to win six of the seven games on the No. 2 court. Then, senior Luis Francisco Sampedro and freshman Luka Vuglar clinched the match's doubles point with a 6-2 triumph on the No. 3 court.

Senior Francisco Perez Esnaola and sophomore Gian Durrer closed out the strong doubles play with a 6-3 victory on the No. 1 court.

GGC carried over the winning ways into singles play, winning all six matches in straight sets.

Vuglar collected a 6-3, 6-1 victory on the No. 6 court before Francisco Sampedro won by identical 6-1 set scores to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 advantage.

Durrer registered the team's fourth point of the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles. Junior Kanan Gasimov was victorious by a 6-1, 6-4 score on the No. 5 court.

Yerdilda picked up a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles before Carlos Garcia earned a 7-5, 6-4 triumph on the No. 3 court.

In the second match, the Grizzlies and The Citadel (4-20) had lengthy singles battles, with three matches going three sets.

Yerdilda gave the hosts their first point of the match with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on the No. 2 court. Carlos Garcia followed immediately with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles to give GGC a 2-0 lead.

Gasimov collected a straight-set 6-4, 7-6 win at No. 5 singles for the team's third point.

Francisco Sampedro clinched the dual match victory with a come-from-behind, three-set victory at the top of the lineup. He responded after dropping the opening set 6-4 to win the final two sets by consecutive 6-1 scores.

Vuglar also rallied in his singles match on the No. 6 court, winning the deciding third set by a 6-4 score. He forced the deciding set with a 6-3 second-set score.

The Grizzlies have now collected dual match victories against opponents from NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III along with NAIA collegiate ranks this spring.
 
Coach's Corner
"Today was productive as we were pushed a little bit in the second match. Most things went our way in the first match and we handled our business pretty well. We started the second match a little sloppy, so it put us in some pressure situations. We closed out almost all those situations. It was good that we were pushed. At the end of the day, it was quality tennis," said Head Coach Tom Rees.
 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to travel to face NAIA No. 13 Missouri Baptist University on Thursday, April 2, in Pulaski, Tennessee, starting at 4 p.m.