University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh
Croyder Captures Clinch Over No.24 NC State
February 04, 2022 | Men's Tennis
Croyder Captures Clinch Over No. 24 NC State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Georgia Sports Communications
Feb. 4, 2022
RALEIGH, N.C. — With the match tied at 3-3, Georgia's Blake Croyder won a thriller at court five ushering the No. 7-ranked Bulldogs to a 4-3 victory over the No.24-ranked NC State Wolfpack Friday evening.
No.110-ranked Croyder won the first set decisively 6-2 over NC State's Damien Salvestre. The second set came down to a tiebreaker and Croyder ousted Salvestre 7-6 (12-10) to grab the clinch for the now 4-0 Bulldogs.
"Hard to put into words the effort and heart of our guys tonight, head coach Manuel Diaz said. "State played incredibly in doubles and made it really hard on us. It was tough for our guys to adjust to the fast courts but they battled incredibly hard until they got the job done."
Croyder's night started out dominant in doubles with his partner Erik Grevlius, who defeated Martins Rocens and Fons Van Sambeek 6-2. The pair has now advanced to 3-1 in dual competition and has won seven of their last 10 matches.
However, the other doubles courts for Georgia did not find the same success on Friday night. Yannai Barkai and Collin Schick defeated No.21-ranked Philip Henning and Trent Bryde 6-2. Tristan McCormick and Hamish Stewart lost to Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli 1-6.
Down 0-1, the Bulldogs picked up two first-set wins on the singles courts.
In a battle of top-ranked talent No.32 graduate transfer Stewart ousted No.36 Catry in straight sets 6-1, 7-5. In his first season dawning the red and black Stewart improves to 4-0 in dual competition and 4-2 against nationally-ranked opponents.
Fellow graduate transfer Tristan McCormick followed suit conquering his opponent in straight sets as well. Facing Staeheli who is the No. 3-ranked newcomer of the year, McCormick displayed his veteran power in a 6-4,7-6 (7-0) victory.
With the Bulldogs up 2-1, No. 62 Bryde on court one and No.23 Henning on court two were in heated third-set battles. Meanwhile, No.110 Croyder and No.119 Thomas Paulsell were in the beginnings of their first sets.
Bryde could not hold off his Wolfpack counterpart in a 6-7,6-2,2-6 defeat and NC State evened the match 2-2.
Not shortly after Henning presented a 4-6,6-4,7-5 win for the Bulldogs. Georgia then had a one-point advantage with two matches still left to play out.
Paulsell fell to Braden Shick 4-6,3-6 and the match was tied 3-3. Georgia had to wait for the win as Croyder's match went down to the wire.
The Bulldogs travel to No.10 Wake Forest next for a match on Sunday, February 6.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia vs NC State
Feb 04, 2022 at Raleigh, N.C.
(J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
#7 Georgia 4, #24 NC State 3
Singles Competition
1. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) def. #62 Trent Bryde (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2
2. #23 Philip Henning (UGA) def. Martins Rocens (ST) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. #32 Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. #36 Robin Catry (ST) 6-1, 7-5
4. Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Luca Staeheli (ST) 6-4, 7-6 (7-0)
5. #110 Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Damien Salvestre (ST) 6-2, 7-6 (12-10)
6. Braden Shick (ST) def. #119 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Yannai Barkai/Collin Shick (ST) def. #21 Philip Henning/Trent Bryde (UGA) 6-2
2. Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (ST) def. Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA) 6-1
3. Blake Croyder/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Martins Rocens/Fons Van Sambeek (ST)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Georgia Sports Communications
Feb. 4, 2022
RALEIGH, N.C. — With the match tied at 3-3, Georgia's Blake Croyder won a thriller at court five ushering the No. 7-ranked Bulldogs to a 4-3 victory over the No.24-ranked NC State Wolfpack Friday evening.
No.110-ranked Croyder won the first set decisively 6-2 over NC State's Damien Salvestre. The second set came down to a tiebreaker and Croyder ousted Salvestre 7-6 (12-10) to grab the clinch for the now 4-0 Bulldogs.
"Hard to put into words the effort and heart of our guys tonight, head coach Manuel Diaz said. "State played incredibly in doubles and made it really hard on us. It was tough for our guys to adjust to the fast courts but they battled incredibly hard until they got the job done."
Croyder's night started out dominant in doubles with his partner Erik Grevlius, who defeated Martins Rocens and Fons Van Sambeek 6-2. The pair has now advanced to 3-1 in dual competition and has won seven of their last 10 matches.
However, the other doubles courts for Georgia did not find the same success on Friday night. Yannai Barkai and Collin Schick defeated No.21-ranked Philip Henning and Trent Bryde 6-2. Tristan McCormick and Hamish Stewart lost to Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli 1-6.
Down 0-1, the Bulldogs picked up two first-set wins on the singles courts.
In a battle of top-ranked talent No.32 graduate transfer Stewart ousted No.36 Catry in straight sets 6-1, 7-5. In his first season dawning the red and black Stewart improves to 4-0 in dual competition and 4-2 against nationally-ranked opponents.
Fellow graduate transfer Tristan McCormick followed suit conquering his opponent in straight sets as well. Facing Staeheli who is the No. 3-ranked newcomer of the year, McCormick displayed his veteran power in a 6-4,7-6 (7-0) victory.
With the Bulldogs up 2-1, No. 62 Bryde on court one and No.23 Henning on court two were in heated third-set battles. Meanwhile, No.110 Croyder and No.119 Thomas Paulsell were in the beginnings of their first sets.
Bryde could not hold off his Wolfpack counterpart in a 6-7,6-2,2-6 defeat and NC State evened the match 2-2.
Not shortly after Henning presented a 4-6,6-4,7-5 win for the Bulldogs. Georgia then had a one-point advantage with two matches still left to play out.
Paulsell fell to Braden Shick 4-6,3-6 and the match was tied 3-3. Georgia had to wait for the win as Croyder's match went down to the wire.
The Bulldogs travel to No.10 Wake Forest next for a match on Sunday, February 6.
Tennis Match Results
Georgia vs NC State
Feb 04, 2022 at Raleigh, N.C.
(J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center)
#7 Georgia 4, #24 NC State 3
Singles Competition
1. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) def. #62 Trent Bryde (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2
2. #23 Philip Henning (UGA) def. Martins Rocens (ST) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. #32 Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. #36 Robin Catry (ST) 6-1, 7-5
4. Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Luca Staeheli (ST) 6-4, 7-6 (7-0)
5. #110 Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Damien Salvestre (ST) 6-2, 7-6 (12-10)
6. Braden Shick (ST) def. #119 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Yannai Barkai/Collin Shick (ST) def. #21 Philip Henning/Trent Bryde (UGA) 6-2
2. Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (ST) def. Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA) 6-1
3. Blake Croyder/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Martins Rocens/Fons Van Sambeek (ST)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Georgia Men's Tennis NCAA Round 2 vs NC State - Postmatch Interview - Coach Hunt
Sunday, May 04
Georgia Men's Tennis NCAA Round 1 vs UNCW - Video Recap
Saturday, May 03
Georgia Men's Tennis SEC Tournament vs Oklahoma Post-match Interview - Coach Hunt
Thursday, April 17
Georgia Men's Tennis Feature - Lifelong Bond: Miguel Perez Peña and Oscar Pinto Sansano
Tuesday, April 15