Men’s Tennis Squad Turns in Impressive Outing at FSU Invitational

Sunday, January 14

Tallahassee, Fla.

10 a.m.

Mercer University

Louisiana

Men’s Tennis Squad Turns in Impressive Outing at FSU Invitational

1/14/2018 8:54:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Will Tharp

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –The Mercer men's tennis team was victorious in two matches at the final day of the Florida State Invitational Sunday afternoon.

The Bears first met the Rajin' Cajuns of Louisiana Sunday morning, in which Mercer claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory.

The Bears stretched to an early 2-0 lead after No. 1 Philp defeated Lago in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 3 Guillon cruised past Kramarou, 6-0, 6-4. Louisiana earned two more points with No. 6 Giheany topping Vanoppen, 6-1, 7-5, and No. 4 Dolan defeating Tsiranidis, 6-4, 6-2. Mercer's No. 2 Olivier Stuart bested Libaud in a three setter, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2. Court No. 5 saw Koenig rally to top Fernando Guardia, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.

Doubles competition was played with the match tied at 3-3 to determine the winner. The Bears' No. 1 duo of Sam Philp and Olivier Stuart topped Elio Lago and Arthur Libaud, 6-4. On court No. 2, Mercer's Nicolas Guillon and Ruben Vanoppen fell, 6-3, to Pears Dolan and Pierce Giheany. Mercer's No. 3 pairing of Stathis Tsiranidis and Carver Arant clinched the match for the Bears with a 7-6 triumph over Vlad Kramarou and Nico Sojka.

The Bears then faced Florida Atlantic, seeking revenge from last season's loss in the 2017 FSU Spring Invitational. Mercer swept the Owls, 4-0.

Mercer's No. 1 Philp downed Remi Chancerel in straight sets, 7-6 (1), 6-3. On court No. 2, Guillon bested Ignacio Garcia, 6-0, 7-5. Court No. 3 saw Stuart conquer Jason Legall, 6-1, 6-3. The match was clinched when No. 4 seeded Guardia beat Anthony Schohn, 6-2, 6-4.

"After not competing as good as we would have liked to yesterday, I was very impressed today," Head Coach Eric Hayes said. "We beat two quality teams, taking down FAU who beat us here last season."

The Bears improve to 2-1 on the season after the conclusion tournament.

The Mercer men's tennis team will return to action when they travel to Statesboro, Ga. to face Georgia Southern on Jan. 23.

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