Tuesday, March 31, 2009

MACON, Ga. (March 30, 2009) -After completely dominating its Atlantic Sun Conference opponents this season the ETSU men's tennis team continued that trend dropping league foe Mercer, 6-1 late Monday night at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center in Mercer, Ga.

Despite playing with a different lineup for only the second time this spring ETSU (8-7, 6-0) opened play winning all three doubles matches for the early 1-0 lead. In No. 1 doubles action senior Alex Ahlgren (Tyreso, Sweden) and freshman Robin Akser (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden) made quick work of Dave Barton and Victor Dias, 8-7, while the Buc team of senior Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) and freshman Sander Gille (Kuringen, Belgium) dropped Justin Wimpee and Mathew Poleon, 8-3.The final doubles match proved to be the most exciting as junior Daniel Isaza (Medellin, Columbia) and freshman Jeremy Bonnevalle (Keerbergen, Belgium), outlasted Fernando Armendaris and Chapman Mitchell, 9-8.

With the momentum on its side the Bucs continued to roll as singles play began. No. 11^th-ranked Olivares dropped Justin Wimpee in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, for his seventh straight singles win, while sophomore Grega Teraz (Mojstrana, Slovenia),  playing in No. 2 position, rallied after dropping the first set 3-6, by storming back to take the final two sets, 6-3, 10-8.

After sophomore Charles Bottoni (Bois Guillaume, France) dropped a heartbreaking three-set No. 3 singles match to Dave Barton, ETSU extended its advantage as Robin Akser continued his outstanding play over the past two weeks, defeating Chapman Mitchell, 6-2, 6-2. The Bucs followed that up as Danny (Daniel) Isaza gave the Bucs a 5-1 lead after dominating Victor Dias in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.

With the victory now in hand ETSU captain Alex Ahlgren closed out the scoring against Adam Hunt dropping Mercer freshman Adam Hunt 6-3, 6-2 giving the Bucs its 31st-straight A-Sun regular season win.

The nationally ranked Bucs will now look to extend winning streak as they travel to face both Florida Gulf Coast and No. 74-ranked Stetson this weekend.

Tennis Match Results
ETSU vs Mercer
Mar 30, 2009 at Macon, Ga.

ETSU 6, Mercer 1

Singles competition
1. Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Justin Wimpee (MER-M) 6-2, 6-2
2. Grega Teraz (ETSU) def. Fernando Armendaris (MER-M) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8
3. Dave Barton (MER-M) def. Charles Bottoni (ETSU) 7-6, 2-6, 11-9
4. Daniel Isaza (ETSU) def. Victor Dias (MER-M) 6-0, 6-1
5. Robin Akser (ETSU) def. Chapman Mitchell (MER-M) 6-2, 6-2
6. Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Adam Hunt (MER-M) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Alex Ahlgren/Robin Akser (ETSU) def. Dave Barton/Victor Dias (MER-M) 8-7
2. Enrique Olivares/Sander Grille (ETSU) def. Justin Wimpee/Matthew Poleon (MER-M) 8-3
3. Daniel Isaza/Jeremy Bonnevalle (ETSU) def. Fernando Armendaris/Chapman Mitchell (MER-M) 9-8

For more information on the ETSU men's tennis team please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.