University of Georgia Athletics
Perez Peña Clinches, Bulldogs Remain Perfect in SEC Play
April 02, 2023 | Men's Tennis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore Miguel Perez Peña earned his first match-clinching win of the season to help the eighth-ranked University of Georgia blank No. 59 Arkansas, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs (14-5, 8-0 SEC) clinched the doubles point for the fourth time in the last five matches and earned singles wins from No. 99 Blake Croyder, No. 4 Ethan Quinn and Perez Peña to sweep the Razorbacks (12-10, 0-8 SEC).
"I'm encouraged by the way we're playing across the board," said head coach Manny Diaz. "Once again, we played really solid at all three positions in doubles. We have three fabulous combinations and I'm very pleased that our doubles teams are coming through for us. In singles, the biggest challenge was for our guys to come out focused after an emotional win on Friday, but even more challenging was the wind and very difficult conditions. I'm very proud of our group for taking care of business today."
Georgia impressed in doubles action to earn the point for the fourth time in the previous five matches. No. 9 Trent Bryde and Quinn won their fourth-straight match on court one and their 10th of the season with a 6-2 win over Adrien Burdet and Melvin Manuel, while Croyder and Britton Johnston clinched the point for the Bulldogs for the fourth-consecutive match with a 6-2 victory of their own. Teodor Giusca and Philip Henning were up 5-2 at the time of the clinch.
The Bulldogs continued to impress in singles action, where the team earned five of six first sets. No. 99 Croyder was the first singles match to finish, giving Georgia a 2-0 match lead with a straight set 6-4, 6-4 win against Alan Sau Franco. The redshirt senior is now 21-13 on the year and 12-6 in dual match action.
Just minutes later, No. 4 Quinn defeated Stefanos Savva by the same score, giving the Bulldogs match point. The Fresno, Calif. native has now won eight of his last nine matches, all on court one. Perez Peña clinched the match on court six, winning his sixth-straight match and improving to 22-9 on the year, which is the most singles wins on the team.
"Miguel has been continuing to get better," said Coach Diaz. "He's on a roll right now and a huge reason of why we're doing well. He's become a very reliable point for us and I'm very proud of what he's become and what is ahead for him."
The Bulldogs will play their next two matches on the road, beginning with No. 6 South Carolina on Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m. ET, and on Sunday, April 9 against No. 19 Florida at 1 p.m. Georgia previously defeated the Gamecocks, 4-3, in the first round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championships in Chicago on Feb. 17.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
#8 Georgia 4, #59 Arkansas 0
Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. Stefanos Savva (ARKM) 6-4, 6-4
2. Melvin Manuel (ARKM) vs. #17 Philip Henning (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 0-2, unfinished
3. Adrien Burdet (ARKM) vs. Trent Bryde (UGA) 2-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. #99 Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Alan Sau Franco (ARKM) 6-4, 6-4
5. Benedikt Emesz (ARKM) vs. #116 Teodor Giusca (UGA) 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
6. Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) def. Gerard Planelles (ARKM) 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 4, 1, 6*
Doubles competition
1. #9 Ethan Quinn/Trent Bryde (UGA) def. Adrien Burdet/Melvin Manuel (ARKM) 6-2
2. Stefanos Savva/Alan Sau Franco (ARKM) vs. Philip Henning/Teodor Giusca (UGA) 3-5, unfinished
3. Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Benedikt Emesz/Foster Rogers (ARKM) 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3*
The Bulldogs (14-5, 8-0 SEC) clinched the doubles point for the fourth time in the last five matches and earned singles wins from No. 99 Blake Croyder, No. 4 Ethan Quinn and Perez Peña to sweep the Razorbacks (12-10, 0-8 SEC).
"I'm encouraged by the way we're playing across the board," said head coach Manny Diaz. "Once again, we played really solid at all three positions in doubles. We have three fabulous combinations and I'm very pleased that our doubles teams are coming through for us. In singles, the biggest challenge was for our guys to come out focused after an emotional win on Friday, but even more challenging was the wind and very difficult conditions. I'm very proud of our group for taking care of business today."
Georgia impressed in doubles action to earn the point for the fourth time in the previous five matches. No. 9 Trent Bryde and Quinn won their fourth-straight match on court one and their 10th of the season with a 6-2 win over Adrien Burdet and Melvin Manuel, while Croyder and Britton Johnston clinched the point for the Bulldogs for the fourth-consecutive match with a 6-2 victory of their own. Teodor Giusca and Philip Henning were up 5-2 at the time of the clinch.
The Bulldogs continued to impress in singles action, where the team earned five of six first sets. No. 99 Croyder was the first singles match to finish, giving Georgia a 2-0 match lead with a straight set 6-4, 6-4 win against Alan Sau Franco. The redshirt senior is now 21-13 on the year and 12-6 in dual match action.
Just minutes later, No. 4 Quinn defeated Stefanos Savva by the same score, giving the Bulldogs match point. The Fresno, Calif. native has now won eight of his last nine matches, all on court one. Perez Peña clinched the match on court six, winning his sixth-straight match and improving to 22-9 on the year, which is the most singles wins on the team.
"Miguel has been continuing to get better," said Coach Diaz. "He's on a roll right now and a huge reason of why we're doing well. He's become a very reliable point for us and I'm very proud of what he's become and what is ahead for him."
The Bulldogs will play their next two matches on the road, beginning with No. 6 South Carolina on Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m. ET, and on Sunday, April 9 against No. 19 Florida at 1 p.m. Georgia previously defeated the Gamecocks, 4-3, in the first round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championships in Chicago on Feb. 17.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
#8 Georgia 4, #59 Arkansas 0
Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. Stefanos Savva (ARKM) 6-4, 6-4
2. Melvin Manuel (ARKM) vs. #17 Philip Henning (UGA) 7-6 (7-4), 0-2, unfinished
3. Adrien Burdet (ARKM) vs. Trent Bryde (UGA) 2-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. #99 Blake Croyder (UGA) def. Alan Sau Franco (ARKM) 6-4, 6-4
5. Benedikt Emesz (ARKM) vs. #116 Teodor Giusca (UGA) 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
6. Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) def. Gerard Planelles (ARKM) 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 4, 1, 6*
Doubles competition
1. #9 Ethan Quinn/Trent Bryde (UGA) def. Adrien Burdet/Melvin Manuel (ARKM) 6-2
2. Stefanos Savva/Alan Sau Franco (ARKM) vs. Philip Henning/Teodor Giusca (UGA) 3-5, unfinished
3. Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Benedikt Emesz/Foster Rogers (ARKM) 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3*
Players Mentioned
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Georgia Men's Tennis Feature - Lifelong Bond: Miguel Perez Peña and Oscar Pinto Sansano
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