Mercer University
Coastal Caro.
Mens's Tennis Drops Spring Opener to Georgia Southern, 5-2
1/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
STATESBORO, Ga.- The Mercer men's tennis team opened the spring season with a heartbreaking 5-2 loss to in-state rival Georgia Southern on Friday afternoon at the Hanner Tennis Complex.
Four of the six singles flights went to three sets in the match while the Eagles captured the doubles point by just one game.
Mercer (0-1) jumped out to a quick lead in doubles play with an 8-4 win at number three doubles. Georgia Southern (1-0) responded, however, with an 8-4 victory at number two doubles followed by a very close 9-8 triumph over the Bears number one doubles pairing of seniors David Barton and Pierre Tafelski to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
The Orange and Black kept things close when freshman Vicent DeLise made quick work of Sebastien Felt 6-1, 6-3 at number five singles to tie the match at 1-1.
Georgia Southern proved too strong as the afternoon wore on, however, finding ways to pull out three-set victories at number one, number two and number six singles to secure the win.
Junior Peter Tauchner tallied Mercer's only other point of the match with a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 win at number three singles over Albert Codina Sala.
The Bears return to action on Sunday afternoon with a match against Big South member Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
