University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Repeats As USTA/ITA Indoor National Champion
February 19, 2007 | Men's Tennis
CHICAGO, Ill. --- The No. 1-ranked University of Georgia men’s tennis team (8-0) defeated No. 2 Ohio State (9-1) by a score of 4-0 in Chicago Monday, becoming the sixth team ever to repeat as champion at the ITA Team Indoor National Championship. The match was clinched by No. 2-ranked senior John Isner (Greensboro, N.C.) as he defeated Bryan Koniecko, 6-3, 6-, clinching his second straight match and locking up the Georgia win. Not only did Georgia repeat as champion but the Bulldogs have won both of those championship matches by a 4-0 score, becoming the only team ever to do so.
“I'm really impressed by how our guys responded against a great Ohio State team," said Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz. “We came in knowing our freshmen (Hunt and Schnugg) were coming along, but weren't sure how they would respond here. But we found out we have a great freshmen group. They really came through for us here.”
Georgia’s doubles play once again proved to be an important strength of the team as the Bulldogs snatched the doubles point with wins at the first and second positions. The No. 1-ranked team of senior John Isner (Greensboro, N.C.) and junior Luis Flores (Xalapa, Mexico) were first off the court as they topped Drew Eberly and Justin Kronauge at the first position, 8-4. Minutes later, the doubles point was clinched at the second spot by senior Matic Omerzel (Kranj, Slovenia) and junior Travis Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.) who took down Ohio State’s 20th-ranked team of Devin Mullings and Chris Klingemann. With the doubles point already locked up for UGA, the No. 3 doubles match was halted with the freshman duo of Jamie Hunt (San Antonio, Texas) and Nate Schnugg (Medford, Ore.) leading Bryan Koniecko and Steven Moneke, 7-6. Georgia has now won the doubles point in all eight of its matches on the year.
In singles play it was the two freshmen once again stepping up for the Bulldogs as Hunt defeated Eberly 6-3, 6-1 and Schnugg took down Kronauge, 6-4, 6-3. Schnugg won all four of his matches in this tournament while Hunt won three and had one halted. Isner’s clinch was his second straight as he also closed out the win over Virginia in the semifinals Sunday.
When Georgia locked up the match, the remaining three matches were halted. At that time, Helgeson was up a set at 6-4, 2-2, Flores had lost the first set but was leading in the second, w-6, 4-3, as was Omerzel at 4-6, 4-3.
The Bulldogs have now become just the sixth team to repeat as champion since the tournament’s inception in 1973. The last squad to do so was Illinois in 2003-04. Overall, Georgia’s record at the ITA National Team Indoors improves to 60-36 (.625) including consolation matches, in 30 appearances.
Georgia improves to 10-0 all-time against Ohio State.
Photo Credit: Kenny Kim Photography
John Isner Win Celebration
| The University of Georgia will play host to the 2007 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships, May 17-28. For ticket and tournament information, please visit the NCAA Tournament Information Center on georgiadogs.com. |
