University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Set To Open Singles And Doubles Play
May 20, 2014 | Men's Tennis
Singles Draw (PDF) 
| Double Draw (PDF)
May 20, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. --- Four members of the Georgia men's tennis team will begin play in the singles and doubles portion of the NCAA Championships Wednesday and Thursday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The individual tournaments follow the team event, and are set for May 21-26 in Athens.
The 64-player singles field will include sophomore Austin Smith and junior Nathan Pasha, while Georgia's No. 1 doubles team of Ben Wagland and Hernus Pieters are set to compete as a No. 5-8 seed in the 32-team doubles draw.
Smith will meet Alen Salibasic of Drake in the first round on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., while Pasha will take on Rafael Aita of UNC-Wilmington at 3 p.m. Wagland and Pieters will play Notre Dame's Greg Andrews and Alex Lawson in the first round of doubles on Thursday at a time to be announced.
Smith leads the team with a 35-11 record, including 17 dual match victories and 14 wins over ranked opponents in 2013-14. Pasha is 26-13 overall and 9-9 in dual matches, with eight ranked wins. Pieters and Wagland have amassed a doubles record of 20-10, and are 8-2 in their last 10 outings.
Georgia players have won the NCAA singles title four times: Mikael Pernfors in 1984 and 1985 and Matias Boeker in 2001 and 2002. Pernfors beat teammate George Bezecny for the crown in 1985. The Bulldogs have won three NCAA doubles titles including Ola Malmqvist and Allen Miller in 1983, Boeker and Travis Parrott in 2001, and John Isner and Antonio Ruiz in 2005.
In singles, players can achieve All-America status by reaching the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, players who finish in the top-20 of the final ITA singles rankings or are seeded in the top-16 of the NCAA Tournament also earn All-America honors. Smith is currently No. 23.
In doubles, players who reach the quarterfinals, finish in the final 10 of the ITA rankings or are seeded in the top-eight of the NCAA Tournament will be recognized as All-Americans. Pieters and Wagland already qualify by seeding, with Pieters now a three-time All-America and Wagland with two honors.
Georgia reached the round of 16 of the team tournament, falling to North Carolina 4-2 on May 16.
