by Ben Petree, sports information student
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The No. 31 Georgia College & State University Men's Tennis squad (6-5, 0-1 PBC) gave it their all Tuesday against the No. 27 Augusta Jaguars (12-4) but ultimately fell 4-3 at the Centennial Center Tennis Facility.
The Bobcats started strong in the doubles play, winning the point over Augusta. Finishing first for the Bobcats on the first line, Gabe Cizek (Prague, Czech Republic) and Luka Sauer Jimenez (Nyon, Switzerland) faced Alexis Bailhache and Elie Azoulay and won handedly 6-1. Securing the doubles point for the Bobcats on the third line, the pair of Karol Malirz (Marbella, Spain) and Enzo Sergi (Nice, France) played Quentin Cano and Artur Abyan winning 6-1. Malirz and Sergi are a team-best 5-3.
Following the doubles matches, the Bobcats started singles play strong as well with a 6-0, 6-2 win from Cizek against Cano on the first line. Following this, Komada faced off against Azoulay on the fourth line but fell 6-2, 6-3. Jesus Villamizar Abia (Valencia, Venezuela) finished next on the sixth line facing Arthur Valette in a hard fought three-set match, but unfortunately lost 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
With the match now tied 2-2, freshman Rodrigo Pérez Crespo (Ourense, Spain) finished next on the fifth line for the Bobcats playing against Bailhache in another three-set match winning 6-3, 6-0, 7-5. Following this, Malirz faced Garutti on the second line giving it his absolute all but losing in yet another three-set match 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. With the match now tied once again at 3-3, Jorge Robinson (Entre Rios, Argentina) played a thrilling three-set match against Isago but unfortunately lost 6-7, 6-3, 7-6[7]. The final match score was 4-3 in favor of the Jaguars.
Cizek now owns a 6-5 singles mark, all on the first line. Pérez Crespo picked up his first career singles victory in collegiate dual play.
The Bobcats are back in action Friday, March 24, when they travel to face No. 21 Flagler College. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m.
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.
