By Staff Reports

 

AMERICUS – It’s been a tough year on the courts for the Georgia Southwestern State University Mens’ Tennis Team. The Hurricanes are currently 4-12 overall and have yet to win a PBC match, as they are now 0-7 after being blanked by Francis Marion University 9-0 Sunday at the GSW Tennis Complex.

GSW got off to a rough start when Alex Canovas Ferrando, the team’s number one player, lost in straight sets to W. Anth-Forsberg 6-1, 6-2. The Hurricanes’ number two player, Steven Blythe, had a much better showing against Francis Marion’s Mauricio Guerrero. Blythe won the first set 6-4 and Guerrero won the second set 6-4, setting up a tie-breaking third set. Unfortunately for Blythe, Guerrero won the tie-breaker in a hard-fought third set 10-7.

Nacho Garcia de Sola lost in straight sets to Francis Marion’s Paul Meuwissen 6-0, 6-1. Beau Millwood of GSW lost in straight sets to Henri Broeseler 6-1, 6-2. The Hurricanes’ Justin Ralston fell to Charles Hutchings 6-1, 6-0. GSW’s Luke Eafano put up a good fight against Matt Astell, but Astell beat Eafano 6-4, 6-1.

In doubles action, Blythe and Canovas Ferrando tried to make up for their respective individual losses by teaming up against W. Anth-Forsberg and Charles Hutchings. However, the duo of Anth-Forsberga and Hutchings were too much for Blythe and Canovas Ferrando, beating them 8-1. The doubles match featuring the GSW team of Nacho Garcia de Sola and Jonathan Martin and Francis Marion’s duo of Broeseler and Gurrero was a good, competitive match. However, Broeseler and Gurrero won the match 8-6.

The final doubles match featured GSW’s Beau Millwood and Luke Eafano against Francis Marion’s Matt Astell and Paul Meuwissen. It was a tight, well-played match, with the score being 9-8 Astell/Meuwissen. However, they had to win by two to win the match. They did so by winning the tie-breaker 7-5.

With the win, the Francis Marion club improves to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in the Peach Belt Conference.

With the loss, GSW has now lost four straight. They will try to bounce back when they host Brewton-Parker College on Friday, April 6. First serve begins at 2 p.m.