‘Cats crush the competition, take six titles in Chick-Fil-A tourney
GCSU came away with four individual and two doubles titles on the weekend. The lone spaces in the win column came in Men’s Flight-5 and Women’s Flight-4 Singles.
Senior Gabby Acuna was the lone female competitor for the Bobcats and advanced to her bracket finals. Acuna came back from a 3-6 loss in the first set eventually winning her quarterfinal match with closing sets of 6-4, 6-3.
Her run ended against a tough Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) adversary in straight sets.
On the men’s side, the doubles points came easily as the dominating senior duo of Erick Siqueira and Justin Pickham handled their matches against Berry College and AASU. Wins of 8-3 and 8-2 add to their impressive season.
The junior team of Max Beliankou and Joao Casagrande sliced through Flight-2 Doubles, upending the University of South Carolina at Lancaster and AASU by scores of 8-2 and 8-5 on their way to a finals win.
Head coach Steve Barsby believes the Bobcats have some of the best doubles teams in the country. Spring additions to both squads will add to an already potent lineup.
Singles action echoed the superior doubles romp by GCSU. Siqueira, the ITA All-American, ran through his Flight-1 Singles as no opponent mustered a winning set.
His doubles partner Pickham never lost a game on his way to the Flight-2 win. Pickham continues his competitive improvement as he shakes off the rust from sitting out last season.
“I kept my fitness up during the year off, but I still need to become more match fit under pressure,” Pickham said. “You just don’t get those same feelings in practice.”
The Flight-3 Singles win for Beliankou was a bit more challenging as he worked winning sets of 6-0 and 6-2 around a second set loss. Also, junior Giovane Nucci came away with an interesting Flight-4 title.
Nucci and Casagrande began on opposite ends of the bracket, but winning play for both meant Bobcat vs. Bobcat action during the final. The result tilted Nucci’s way 6-4, 6-4.
Nucci mentioned that it is not the best thing to play your own side, but he is still happy with the win.
A solid fall season shows the depth of the men heading into a competitive spring schedule. Barsby is optimistic about their post-season outlook.
“The guys understand they’re good and I think we’ll have a shot at the end of the year,” Barsby said. “We have the deepest region by far, so the road won’t be easy.”
Nucci shares his coach’s excitement heading into the off-season.
“The team is more talented this year because we are pretty even from No. 1 to 6,” Nucci said.
The Chick-Fil-A tournament marks the end of fall season for all but two male Bobcats. Siqueira and Pickham get an extra perk by way of their A-Draw Doubles Championship victory in the recent ITA Southeast Regional.
Both players head to the Super Bowl of Small College Tennis with the opening round coming Friday, Oct. 17.
Pickham and Siqueira feel they are adjusting to each other’s game. Pickham, a slightly more adept doubles player, said he is still trying to anticipate his partner’s moves around the court.
“Sometimes, I’m thinking that Erick will finish a run when he might hesitate and stop,” Pickham said.
As both seniors drive to higher and higher levels, these small adjustments will come in time. Despite a past winning record in doubles, Siqueira never considers himself a doubles specialist.
“I get more pumped during our matches trying to get to Justin’s level,” Siqueira said. “Maybe he can see that and get his level up too.”
Barsby feels the accomplishment is great for the program and Siqueira who has been through different doubles partners throughout his career.
“Erick has worked so hard; he deserves this,” Barsby said. “I couldn’t ask for two better guys to represent us.”
In addition, the doubles event remaining the Lady Bobcats finish their fall season at the Georgia College Fall Women’s Championships held in Milledgeville Oct. 10-12.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 10 2008. Filed under Sports.
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