Bears Pick Up Pair of Big Ranked Wins at Georgia Tuesday

Tuesday, February 27

Athens, Ga.

2:30 p.m.

Mercer University

No. 11 Georgia

Bears Pick Up Pair of Big Ranked Wins at Georgia Tuesday

2/27/2018 7:53:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Will Tharp

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears' men's tennis squad earned a pair of ranked victories at Georgia Tuesday afternoon, despite dropping the 6-1 decision.

The doubles competition was highlighted by Mercer's No. 1 pairing of Sam Philp and Olivier Stuart besting the No. 12 nationally ranked duo of Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski, 7-5. On court No. 2, the Bulldogs' Wayne Montgomery and Walker Duncan defeated Ruben Vanoppen and Nicolas Guillon, 6-3. Mercer's No. 3 seeded Carver Arant and Stathis Tsiranidis were serving for match point before Georgia's Nathan Ponwith and Alex Diaz rallied to a 7-6 (1) victory.

Mercer was unable to get over the hump, as Georgia's experience and talent began to show over the course of singles play, with the Bulldogs taking five of the singles competition. However, the Bears' No. 1 seeded Philp picked up the biggest win of his collegiate career, downing the No. 11 nationally ranked Montgomery in a thrilling three-setter, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. On court No. 2, No. 40 ranked Emil Reinberg topped Stuart, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Court No. 3 saw, No. 89 ranked Ponwith defeat Guillon, 6-3, 6-4. The Bears' No 4 slotted, Fernando Guardia fell 6-2, 6-3, at the hands of the No. 19 ranked Walker Duncan. Georgia's No. 5 seeded, No. 28 nationally ranked, Jan Zielinski beat Tsiranidis, 6-1, 6-3. The Bulldog's No. 6 Loeb earned a 7-5, 6-4, victory over Vanoppen. Georgia prevailed from the contest with the 6-1 win.

Up Next
The Bears will have a quick turnaround, returning to LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center to host the Jacksonville State Gamecocks Wednesday, Feb. 28, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

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