ATLANTA--The No. 61-ranked Georgia
State men's tennis team hosts an important match against Winthrop on Sunday
looking for a bounce-back victory to close the weekend slate.
The
Panthers (7-6) will look to close the weekend with a victory to build momentum
towards an important stretch of matches next week. GSU and Winthrop have met
each year since 2009 with the team's splitting the four matchups. The Panthers
won a 6-0 match last year at the Sharon Lester Tennis Center.
GSU
is looking to bounce back from a narrow 4-3 loss at No. 67-ranked Georgia Tech
on Thursday. Highlighting the match was seniors Victor Valente and Lucas Santa
Ana who set a school record with a victory against the No. 3-ranked doubles
pair in the nation. The two improved to 11-0 this season in doubles play and
notched the first doubles victory for a GSU team vs. a nationally-ranked foe
since 2009. Valente then won a 6-4, 6-4 decision against No. 53-ranked Juan
Spir in singles play. It was Valente's fifth win over a nationally-ranked
opponent this season.
"We
are working on finding our identity as a team," first-year head coach Joerg
Barthel said, "A season is a long process of ups and downs and we have to
respond to adversity well in order to win tough matches."
Winthrop
(2-7) is looking to snap a three-match losing streak on Sunday. Leading the
Eagles is Dylan Comerford at the No. 1 position. The Eagles won a 5-2 match vs.
Tennessee Tech earlier this season which GSU beat 6-1 on Jan. 21.
Georgia
State faces three teams that were ranked in the preseason in its next three
matches. First GSU hosts Sun Belt foe Louisiana Lafayette next Saturday before travelling
to Birmingham, Ala., for a match against UAB on Mar. 13. GSU then hosts No.
69-ranked North Florida on Mar. 18 at the Blackburn Tennis Center.
Live
stats will be provided for the match courtesy of GeorgiaStateSports.com. Visit
the men's tennis page for a full recap and results following the match.
www.GeorgiaStateSports.com
