Middle Tennessee falls to No. 16 Georgia Tech in NCAAs

ATLANTA - On a hot and humid Atlanta afternoon, No. 16 Georgia Tech knocked off the Middle Tennessee men's tennis team, 4-0, in NCAA Tournament First Round action at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. The setback concludes the Blue Raider campaign at 13-13 under first-year head coach Jimmy Borendame.

"Despite the loss, I am extremely proud of this team and the effort it has shown, not only during the last month, but all season," Borendame said. "With such a young roster, I fully expect us to be very competitive in the next few years and I am looking forward to that with excitement."

The nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early 1-0 edge when they claimed the doubles point. Georgia Tech (20-5) started the day with Eliot Potvin and Ryan Smith handing Elliot Barnwell and Kyle Wishing an 8-1 setback.

The point then fell into GT's favor with an 8-2 triumph by the No. 14 tandem of Kevin King and Juan Spir at the No. 1 position against Ben Davis and Shaun Waters.

The Yellow Jackets then battled through singles action to claim the match victory and garner a slim 6-5 edge in the all-time series.

Dean O'Brien started the singles play with a 6-0, 6-2 win against Wishing at the No. 6 slot before Potvin put Georgia Tech within a match of the victory with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Dimitri Pippos during the No. 4 meeting.

King clinched the match win, knocking off Matthew Langley 6-2, 6-2, to complete the sweep.

Davis, the lone All-Sun Belt honoree on this year's Middle Tennessee squad, was in line for an upset of No. 14 Guillermo Gomez at the top singles position. Davis claimed the first set 6-4 and was tied in the second, 2-2, when it was called and declared unfinished.

No. 16 Georgia Tech 4, Middle Tennessee 0

Singles
No. 1 #14 Guillermo Gomez (GT) vs. Ben Davis (MT) 4-6, 2-2, DNF
No. 2 Juan Spir (GT) vs. Shaun Waters (MT) 6-2, 4-1, DNF
No. 3 Kevin King (GT) def. Matthew Langley (MT) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Eliot Potvin (GT) def. Dimitri Pippos (MT) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 Magin Ortiga (GT) vs. Elliot Barnwell (MT) 6-4, 1-0, DNF
No. 6 Dean O'Brien (GT) def. Kyle Wishing (MT) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 #14 King/Spir (GT) def. Davis/Waters (MT) 8-2
No. 2 Potvin/Ryan Smith (GT) def. Barnwell/Wishing (MT) 8-1
No. 3 Gomez/O'Brien (GT) vs. Langley/Pippos (MT) 4-3, DNF

PHOTOS

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