ATLANTA – The Presbyterian College men's tennis team fell in its season opener to 43rd-ranked Georgia Tech on Wednesday evening, 6-1, at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex. The Blue Hose fall to 0-1 on the season, while Georgia Tech claims a doubleheader sweep on the opening day to start the season 2-0.
In doubles play, the regionally-ranked doubles pair of Ben Kelley and Joel Roberts took an early 3-2 lead over Michael Kay and Casey Kay. The GT pair would rally back to ultimately take the match 6-4 at flight one. Georgia Tech would take the doubles matches at flights two and three by scores of 6-3 and 6-2, respectively, to claim the doubles point and take a 1-0 match lead.
In singles, Georgia Tech's top-10 ranked Christopher Eubranks topped Danny Bruce, 6-0, 6-3, at flight one. Alexander Lykou claimed the lone point of the match for the Blue Hose at flight two. He dropped set one 6-3 but was leading 5-4 in the second set when his opponent retired in the match to give PC the point.
Alejandro Bejar dropped the first set at flight three, 6-1, but battled back to take set two, 6-4, to force a decisive third set. Bejar was edged in the tiebreaker frame, 10-8, to fall 2-1 in the match.
Diego Manzanas fell to the Yellow Jackets' Nathan Rakitt, 6-1, 6-1, at flight four, while Brandon Mills fell to Andrew Li, 6-0, 6-3, at flight five. Ben Kelley competed through a tough set one before falling 6-4, 6-2, to Casey Kay at flight six.
PC returns to action on Saturday, January 16, at South Carolina at 10 a.m.
No. 43 Georgia Tech 6, Presbyterian 1
Singles
#1 – No. 6 Christopher Eubanks (GT) def. Danny Bruce (PC), 6-0, 6-3
#2 – Alexander Lykou (PC) def. Carlos Benito (GT), 3-6, 5-4, retired
#3 – Michael Kay (GT) def. Alejandro Bejar (PC), 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (8)
#4 – Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Diego Manzanas (PC), 6-1, 6-1
#5 – Andrew Li (GT) def. Brandon Mills (PC), 6-0, 6-3
#6 – Casey Kay (GT) def. Ben Kelley (PC), 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 5*, 6, 3, 2
Doubles
#1 – Michael Kay/Casey Kay (GT) def. Ben Kelley/Joel Roberts (PC), 6-4
#2 – Christopher Eubanks/Carlos Benito (GT) def. Brandon Mills/Danny Bruce (PC), 6-3
#3 – Elijah Melendez/Daniel Yun (GT) def. Diego Manzanas/Alexander Lykou (PC), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2; Time of match: 1:55
