University of Georgia
Texas
Bulldogs Start Strong At Southern Intercollegiate
September 24, 2021 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia men's tennis team kicked off its fall schedule on Friday with seven singles wins and four doubles triumphs on Day 1 of the 54th annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Georgia student-athletes faced off with a Texas team that finished ranked No. 3 nationally last season. The Bulldogs impressed, winning two out of three doubles contests and three singles matchups against the Longhorns.
Among the big singles wins against Texas included victories from newcomers Tristan McCormick, Hamish Stewart and Thomas Paulsell. Freshman Miguel Perez Peña defeated his Mercer counterpart and then ousted USC's Paul Barretto, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to put a cap on a successful debut for several Georgia players.
"Overall, our guys did well, but we did have some matches where we can do a lot better," head coach Manuel Diaz said. "The energy in doubles was great and I thought we played very well. Hamish gave a great performance after losing the first set against a very good player. We have to keep pushing to improve every day. That means being uncomfortable doing what has to be done when the going gets tough. I definitely think this was a good start for our team."
The day began with a fast start for the Bulldogs in doubles. The pairing of Philip Henning and Erik Grevelius was dominant, beating the Texas twosome of Nevin Arimilli and Eshan Talluri, 8-2, on court 3. On court 1, Trent Bryde and Blake Croyder teamed up to beat Texas' Siem Woldeab and Cleeve Harper in a tight match, 8-6.
The Longhorns' Micah Braswell and Evin McDonald topped Bulldog newcomers McCormick and Stewart, on court 2, but not without a fight. The two teams went back and forth, with both going up a break at one point in the pro-set, before heading to a tiebreaker at 7-7. The Longhorns charged out to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreaker before McCormick and Stewart reeled off five straight points and had their own set point. At 9-9, Texas captured back-to-back points to take the set.
Georgia's other two doubles matches were against teams from Mercer. On court 4, Britton Johnston and Paulsell cruised past Mercer's Lucas Wayenburg and David Georgadze, 8-2. On five, Bulldogs Mathis Debru and Miguel Perez Peña beat Danny Flynn and Samuel Macleod, 8-4.
In singles, Georgia's Henning, who last weekend was in New York playing for his native South Africa in Davis Cup, defeated Texas' McDonald in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. The Bulldogs also got a win from Perez Peña, a freshman, who beat Mercer's Georgadze, 6-3, 6-3.
Facing Texas' Arimilli in his first singles match as a Bulldog, McCormick jumped out in front early and rolled to a 6-1, 6-3 win. Soon after, Stewart, also making his Bulldog debut, wrapped up a battle on court 2 with Texas Micah Braswell. After dropping the first set, Stewart took the second set in a tiebreaker and pulled out a tight third, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
Johnston added the Bulldogs' fifth singles win of the day, beating Mercer's Flynn, 6-3, 6-3. Georgia's final win of the morning came from Paulsell, who dispatched Texas' Talluri, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3.
The Southern Intercollegiate continues Saturday, with Texas and USC playing in the morning (10 a.m.), followed by Georgia and Ohio State at 2 p.m. For more information on the Bulldogs, visit Georgiadogs.com. You can also get updates on the team via Twitter (@UGATennis) and Instagram (@ugatennis).
54th Southern Intercollegiate Championships
Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Results - Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
Morning Session
Doubles
#23 Trent Bryde/Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Siem Woldeab/Cleeve Harper (Texas), 8-6
Micah Braswell/Evin McDonald (Texas) def. #25 Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA), 8-7 (9)
Philip Henning/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Nevin Arimilli/Eshan Talluri (Texas), 8-2
Britton Johnston/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Lucas Wayenburg/David Georgadze (Mercer), 8-2
Mathis Debru/Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) vs Danny Flynn/Samuel Macleod (Mercer), 8-4
Singles
#15 Philip Henning (UGA) def. Evin McDonald (Texas), 6-4, 6-2
#64 Cleeve Harper (Texas) def. #122 Blake Croyder (UGA), 6-3, 6-3
#58 Siem Woldeab (Texas) def. #12 Trent Bryde (UGA), 6-3, 6-3
Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. David Georgadze (Mercer), 6-3, 6-2
Samuel Macleod (Mercer) def. Mathis Debru (UGA), 6-4, 6-4
Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Nevin Arimilli (Texas), 6-1, 6-3
#23 Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. #17 Micah Braswell (Texas), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5
Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Danny Flynn (Mercer), 6-3, 6-3
Lucas Wayenburg (Mercer) def. Erik Grevelius (UGA), 7-5, 6-2
Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Eshan Talluri (Texas), 7-6 (0), 6-3
Afternoon Session
Doubles
#40 Matej Vocel/ Robert Cash (Ohio State) def. Stefan Dostanic/Peter Makk (USC), 8-4
Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (Ohio State) def. Bradley Frye/Lodewijk Westrate (USC), 8-7 (5)
Justin Boulais/Lancelot Carnello (Ohio State) def. Ryder Jackson/Paul Barretto (USC), 8-4
Singles
#68 Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. #20 Matej Vocel (Ohio State), 7-6 (5), 6-4
Justin Boulais (Ohio State) def. #107 Bradley Frye (USC), 6-1, 6-4
Peter Makk (USC) def. #99 JJ Tracy (Ohio State), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Robert Cash (Ohio State) def. Samuel Rubell (USC), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Ryder Jackson (USC) def. Lancelot Carnello (Ohio State), 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. Paul Barretto (USC), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
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Players Mentioned
