by Ben Petree, sports information student
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Georgia College & State University Men's Tennis team (5-3) traveled to face No. 24 Auburn University at Montgomery (6-4), the Bobcats falling short in a tough 5-2 loss Tuesday.
The Bobcats lost the doubles point after a tight tiebreaker match on the first line. Finishing first, the pair of Masumi Komada (Aichi, Japan) and Sebastian Nuñez (Buford, Georgia) faced Thibault Jacq and Antoine Renard on the second line, but lost 6-3. However, the pairing of Karol Malirz (Marbella, Spain) and Enzo Sergi (Nice, France) answered right back for the Bobcats on the third line, defeating Giuseppe Bonaiuti and Adrian Contreras 6-4. Malirz and Sergi are now 2-3 this season.
Giving it their absolute all on the first line, Gabe Cizek (Prague, Czech Republic) and Luka Sauer Jimenez (Nyon, Switzerland) pushed the match to a tiebreaker against Joao Guariente and Giuseppe Bonaiuti, but unfortunately fell 7-6.
Finishing first in singles play for the Bobcats, Jorge Robinson (Entre Rios, Argentina) faced off against Contreras but fell 6-1, 6-3. Following this, Cizek took on one of his doubles opponents, Guariente, and lost 6-2, 6-4. This put AUM on the brink of victory over the Bobcats. Sergi tried to keep the Bobcats alive against the Warhawks, but ultimately lost to Renard 6-3, 7-5.
Malirz also faced his doubles opponent, Bonaiuti, and lost after a tough three set match 1-6, 6-0, 6-1. Team result already decided, Sauer Jimenez improved to 5-2 and put the Bobcats on the board against AUM by defeating Jacq 6-7, 6-4, 5-0. The Bobcat newcomer is in a three-way tie for the team lead in singles victories. Komada got another point for the GCSU Men, beating Titouan Le Maout in a three-set tie breaker 6-7, 6-2, 8-0. Komada moves to 4-2 in singles play this year.
The Bobcats will look to bounce back Friday, March 10, when they play host to the #17 Wingate University Bulldogs. The first serve is scheduled for 1 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.
