GC&SU tennis thumps GSW

The Georgia College & State University men’s and women’s tennis teams began the 2005 season in strong fashion by sweeping Georgia Southwestern State University, Feb. 3, at the Centennial Center.

The women’s team enters the season looking to continue with their success of reaching NCAA Division II Tournament for the last ten seasons. GC&SU Coach Steve Barsby was optimistic, but not without reservation.

“We’ve been practicing hard, but we lost a girl to injuries so we play all the girls on the team,” Barsby said before the match. “We have no spares.”

The team routed their opponents sweeping both doubles and singles matches.

Anna Shchupak and Celine Martin won 8-0 at No. 1 doubles. Chenelle Kruger and Anna Davidsson at No. 2 followed suit winning their match 8-0. Sofia Intriago and Jessica McKnight won 8-1 at No. 3.

In singles play, the women won all six matches in straight sets. Shchupak defeated Nogueira at No. 1 singles; Martin beat Hall at No. 2; Kruger won at No. 3; Davidsson defeated Carrie Sacco at No. 4; Intriago defeated Snyder at No. 5; McKnight won her match at No. 6.

The men’s team also looked good, sweeping GSW in doubles and singles matches. The win was exactly how Barsby wanted to start the 2005 campaign.

“We want to continue with the success we had last year with getting to the regional tournament,” Barsby said.

It was the men’s first trip to the regional tournament in six years.

Neil Scantlebury and Rodrigo Yamauti won at No. 1 doubles, while Brandon Lee and Erick Siqueira won at No. 2. Renato Oliveira and Marcelo Ferreira defeated their opponents at No. 3 doubles.

In singles play, the men won all six matches in straight sets. Scantlebury won at No. 1 singles. Siqueira won his match at No. 2; Yamauti won at No. 3; Lee won at No. 4. Oliveira won at No.5; while Ferreira beat Adam at No. 6.

It is the first time the men’s team has beaten GSW during Barsby’s tenure.

“We’ve been working hard,” Barsby said. “Everyone looks improved.”

Despite the cold weather and the threat of rain, many GC&SU students came to the match to support their Bobcats.

“I wanted to come out and support the team. Both our guys and girls teams are strong and they both pretty much dominated today,” freshman Angelina Wallace said. “If you want to see a good match, come out.”

“This is one of the largest crowds I’ve seen at a match,” Barsby said.

The next match for the men and women’s tennis team will be Feb. 15 against Fort Valley State. The match will be played at the Centennial Center with a start time of 2 p.m.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 11 2005. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry