University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Georgia Tech
Georgia Downs Georgia Tech, 5-2, in Opener
January 20, 2017 | Men's Tennis
Head coach Manuel Diaz, Walker Duncan and Nathan Ponwith recap the win over Georgia Tech, the first dual win of the season.
Jan. 20, 2017
ATLANTA -- A capacity crowd at the Byers Tennis complex watched as the sixth-ranked Georgia men's tennis team rolled to a 5-2 victory against Georgia Tech Friday evening.
Georgia has now 30 of the last 31 meetings and improves its all-time record to 63-9 against against the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs are 1-0 this season and return home to host the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Jan. 27-29.
"It's a super start to this year," head coach Manuel Diaz said. "We knew Georgia Tech had a very good, talented team and are very well coached. To get the doubles win was extremely important. In singles, freshmen Robert Loeb and Nathan Ponwith played well, and I was just really pleased with our whole team tonight."
Georgia split with the Yellow Jackets at the No. 2 and 3 doubles courts as the team of Andrew Li and Cole Fiegel downed Georgia's 41st-ranked pair of Wayne Montgomery and Emil Reinberg, 6-0. The Bulldogs quickly answered back with Walker Duncan and Ponwith running out to a 6-2 victory against Tech's tandem of Daniel Yun and Michael Kay.
The Bulldogs then settled the doubles point thanks to the 54th-ranked tandem of Jan Zielinski and Loeb, who delivered a 6-4 triumph. With Loeb serving, Zielinski hit winners on the the last three points to give Georgia the early 1-0 advantage.
Ponwith came out strong to begin singles play and gave his team a 2-0 lead with a 6-0, 6-1 victory against Daniel Yun. Carlos Benito then gave GT its first point of the day with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Zielinski.
With the match at 2-1 in the Bulldogs' favor, ninth-ranked Christopher Eubanks defeated Montgomery, 7-6 (2), 6-4 to even the contest at 2-2.
Once again, it was a freshman who helped the Bulldogs bounce back -- the time it was Loeb who put his team up 3-2 with an impressive 6-2, 6-4 victory at the sixth court. That win was quickly followed by Reinberg's match-clincher at the No. 2 position.
Georgia will now open the ITA Kickoff Weekend this coming Friday at 1 p.m. ET vs. Purdue.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech
Jan. 20, 2017 // Atlanta, Ga.
Singles Results
1. #9 Christopher Eubanks (GT) def. #22 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) 7-6 (2), 6-4
2. #31 Emil Reinberg (UGA) def. #61 Andrew Li (GT) 6-4, 6-3
3. Carlos Benito (GT) def. #56 Jan Zielinski (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
4. #124 Nathan Ponwith (UGA) def. Daniel Yun (GT) 6-0, 6-1
5. #79 Walker Duncan (UGA) def. Carlos Divar (GT) 6-4, 7-6
6. #79 Robert Loeb (UGA) def. Michael Kay (GT) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. #54 Jan Zielinski/Robert Loeb (UGA) def. Christopher Eubanks/Carlos Benito (GT) 6-4
2. Walker Duncan/Nathan Ponwith (UGA) def. Daniel Yun/Michael Kay (GT) 6-2
3. Andrew Li/Cole Fiegel (GT) def. #41 Wayne Montgomery/Emil Reinberg (UGA) 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,3,1,6,2)
Players Mentioned
