Feb. 14, 2009

Final Stats

DAVIDSON, N.C. - The USC Upstate men's tennis team avenged a close loss from the 2008 season on Saturday morning at Davidson, as Upstate swept doubles play and took of five six singles matches to cruise to the 6-1 win at the Knobloch Indoor Tennis Center. Upstate improved to 5-2 with the win and Davidson fell to 2-5 overall.

Junior Jack Roux and freshman Edgar Rodriguez posted the first Spartan win of the day, posting an 8-0 sweep of Eric Noble and Carter Braxton at No. 3 doubles. The junior duo of Renzo Airaldi and Javier Tori followed with an 8-2 win over Brandon Byrd and Walker Lyons at No. 2 and the top doubles duo of senior Leandro Osorio and freshman Ramiro Blanco added an 8-4 win over Calum Gee and Scott Myers at No. 1.

The doubles wins helped spur the Spartans' effort in singles play, as they won four two-set matches and split the pair of three-set affairs. Blanco posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Braxton at No. 6 singles to improve to 5-0 in his career, junior Arnaldo Lovera posted a 7-6 (8), 6-1 triumph over Arie Hefter at No. 5 and Rodriguez added a 6-1, 7-5 win over Myers at No. 2 singles to give Upstate a 4-0 lead. Airaldi added a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles over Lyons. After a loss at No. 3 singles, the Spartans wrapped up the match with a win at No. 4 singles, as Tori took a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Gee.

Lovera moved into seventh place on the all-time singles win chart with his 46th career win, moving just 11 away from the school record of 57 set by Jorge Ventura from 1993-96. Lovera is just four wins shy of becoming the fifth player in school history to reach 50 singles wins. He is 13-1 on the season.

Tori won his 44th career singles match, moving into a tie for 10th in school history.

The Spartans get back in action next Saturday as they open their home season with an 11 a.m. match at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex against Appalachian State. In five years at the Upstate Tennis Complex, the Spartans have a 52-6 (.897) record.

Meet Results
USC Upstate 6, Davidson 1
 Singles competition
1. Renzo Airaldi (UPSTM) def. Walker Lyons (DAVIDSON) 7-5, 6-4
2. Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) def. Scott Myers (DAVIDSON) 6-1, 7-5
3. Eric Noble (DAVIDSON) def. Jack Roux (UPSTM) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Javier Tori (UPSTM) def. Calum Gee (DAVIDSON) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
5. Arnaldo Lovera (UPSTM) def. Arie Hefter (DAVIDSON) 7-6 (10-8), 6-1
6. Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. Carter Braxton (DAVIDSON) 6-4, 6-4
 Doubles competition
1. Leandro Osorio/Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. Calum Gee/Scott Myers (DAVIDSON) 8-4
2. Renzo Airaldi/Javier Tori (UPSTM) def. Brandon Byrd/Walker Lyons (DAVIDSON) 8-2
3. Jack Roux/Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) def. Eric Noble/Carter Braxton (DAVIDSON) 8-0
Match Notes:
USC Upstate 5-2
Davidson 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,2,1,3,4)