ATHENS, Ga. (Feb. 9, 2011) - Following a long 11-day layoff from match play, the No. 49-ranked ETSU men's tennis team returned to action by falling to No. 11-ranked Georgia, 7-0, at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility on Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday's match marked the fifth consecutive match against a ranked opponent for the Bucs to start the season.
The Bulldogs started out doubles action with a quick victory in the No. 2 position as Drake Bernstein and Wil Spencer knocked off the ETSU duo of Jesus Bandres (Caracas, Venezuela) and Sander Gille (Kuringen, Belgium), 8-2. Georgia got out to a 1-0 lead after Ignacio Taboada and Garrett Brasseaux defeated Robin Akser (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden) and Juan Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay), 8-5, to clinch the doubles point.
ETSU got off to a better start in singles play as they had leads in several matches. However, Georgia ended up getting the first singles point as No. 53-ranked Spencer defeated No. 73 Bandres, 6-4, 6-3.
The most interesting match of the day was at the No. 1 singles position as ETSU's Gille jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead over No. 13-ranked Javier Gerrapiz. However, Gerrapiz battled back to win the next five games to take the opening set 7-5. Gerrapiz kept the momentum rolling into the second set as he swept Gille 6-0 to earn the straight set victory.
The Bulldogs clinched the match at the No. 4 position when Hernus Pieters defeated Bottoni, 6-2, 6-2. Georgia also added wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions as No. 119 Ignacio Taboada and Campbell Johnson defeated Ramirez and Jorge Varon (Valencia, Venezuela).
Grega Teraz (Mojstrana,, Slovenia) was the only ETSU player that took a match to three sets as he earned a 6-4 victory in the opening set over No. 47 Bernstein. However, Bernstein battled back to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-1, to earn the victory.
The Bucs fall to 1-4 on the season, while Georgia improves to 5-1 on the young season. ETSU will be back in action on Saturday as they host longtime rival Appalachian State at the Bristol Tennis Center. The match is set for 10:30 a.m.
For more information on ETSU men's tennis please go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's tennis link. Also, be sure to follow ETSU Athletics on Facebook and Twitter.
ETSU vs Georgia
Feb 09, 2011 at Athens, Ga.
(Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility)
#11 Georgia 7, #49 ETSU 0
Singles competition
1. #13 Javier Garrapiz (UGA) def. Sander Gille (ETSU) 7-5, 6-0
2. #53 Wil Spencer (UGA) def. #73 Jesus Bandres (ETSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. #47 Drake Bernstein (UGA) def. Grega Teraz (ETSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Hernus Pieters (UGA) def. Charles Bottoni (ETSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. #119 Ignacio Taboada (UGA) def. Juan Ramirez (ETSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Campbell Johnson (UGA) def. Jorge Varon (ETSU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #14 Javier Garrapiz/Hernus Pieters (UGA) def. Grega Teraz/Charles Bottoni (ETSU) 8-5
2. Drake Bernstein/Wil Spencer (UGA) def. Jesus Bandres/Sander Gille (ETSU) 8-2
3. Ignacio Taboada/Garrett Brasseaux (UGA) def. Robin Akser/Juan Ramirez (ETSU) 8-5
Match Notes:
ETSU 1-4; National ranking #49
Georgia 5-1; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,1,4,3,5,6)
Official: Walt Williams T-4:29 A-109
