Top-seeded Bucs extend win streak to 11 matches, take on Samford in Saturday semifinal

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (April 24, 2015) - For the second time in the last week, ETSU and The Citadel went toe-to-toe, and for the second time, ETSU bested the Bulldogs, reserving the Buccaneers a spot in Saturday's semifinal round of the Southern Conference Men's Tennis Championship.

Top-seeded ETSU earned a 4-0 victory over eighth-seeded The Citadel Friday in Spartanburg, S.C., in the quarterfinals of the league championship tournament. Friday, April 17, the Buccaneers (15-7) cruised to a 7-0 victory over The Citadel; however, with the tournament presenting a blank slate, the Bulldogs (2-30) began Friday's quarterfinal with renewed tenacity.

"It was a solid start for us today," ETSU head coach Yaser Zaatini said. "The Citadel came ready to play, but we were up to the challenge. Now, we can focus on tomorrow and try to continue to play well."

The Bucs matched The Citadel's resolve, earning victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take an early 1-0 match advantage.

Diego Nunez (Monterrey, Mexico) and Robert Herrera (Barcelona, Spain) defeated Nicholas Bradley and Jackson Pride, 8-3, at No. 2 Doubles, while Sebastian Yllera (Cinco Saltos, Argentina) and Conner Huertas (Lima, Peru) earned an 8-4 win at No. 3.

ETSU carried that momentum into singles play where the Bucs rattled off straight-set wins at the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 positions.

Herrera and Ricardo Pabon (Bogota, Colombia), who earned wins at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, each won by convincing 6-0, 6-0 margins to extend ETSU's lead to 3-0.

Huertas then put the finishing touches on the Bucs' victory by sealing a 6-1, 6-1 win over Pride at the No. 4 position.

With the win, ETSU extended its win streak to 11 matches. The Bucs have won 14 of their last 15 matches, with the lone loss coming on the road to No. 5 Georgia.

The top-seeded Buccaneers will take on No. 4 Samford in a semifinal match Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m., in Greenville, S.C., on the campus of Furman University.

Fourth-seeded Samford earned a 4-3 victory versus No. 5 UNC Greensboro in its quarterfinal match.

RESULTS

ETSU 4, The Citadel 0

Singles competition
1. David Biosca (ETSU) vs. Artemie Amari (CIT) 6-3, 3-2, unfinished
2. Rogerio Ribeiro (ETSU) vs. Peter Bleach (CIT) 6-0, 4-1, unfinished
3. Diego Nunez (ETSU) vs. Nicholas Bradley (CIT) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
4. Conner Huertas (ETSU) def. Jackson Pride (CIT) 6-1, 6-1
5. Robert Herrera (ETSU) def. Oliver Dedding (CIT) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ricardo Pabon (ETSU) def. Connor Grady (CIT) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. David Biosca/Rogerio Ribeiro (ETSU) vs. Artemie Amari/Peter Bleach (CIT) 5-4, unfinished
2. Diego Nunez/Robert Herrera (ETSU) def. Nicholas Bradley/Jackson Pride (CIT) 8-3
3. Sebastian Yllera/Conner Huertas (ETSU) def. Connor Grady/Oliver Dedding (CIT) 8-4

Match Notes:
The Citadel 2-30
ETSU 15-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,6,4)
T-2:17

SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship

Saturday, April 25 – at Furman

Sunday, April 26 – at Furman

For additional information on the Southern Conference Men's Tennis Championship, visit SoConSports.com by clicking here.

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