March 19, 2010

Final Stats

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - A year ago, it was East Tennessee State University that stopped the USC Upstate men's tennis team's school-record winning streak at 20 matches with a heart-wrenching 4-3 win. On Friday afternoon, it was Upstate that did the heart-breaking, snapping ETSU's Atlantic Sun Conference winning streak at 38 matches and the team's winning streak at the Buddy Hartsell Tennis Center with its own 4-3 win.

"We've been waiting for this match since last year," said Upstate coach Alessandro De Marzo, who became the second coach at Upstate to reach 100 career wins with the victory. "They showed a lot of courage. I'm too excited."

Down 3-2, two Upstate players gritted out three-set wins to take the win. First, senior Javier Tori, the school's all-time wins leader, rebounded from a first set in which he had five set points before falling, 6-7, to take the second set 6-4 and the third, 6-2, to post the win over Daniel Isaza at No. 3.

"I'm happy," he said. "We were on serve in the second set and then, I decided I had to break him. I won the set and I broke again in the third set. I knew we had to win those two points (his and Ramiro Blanco's). I'd been waiting for this win for three years. I know, being a senior, and winning this it's probably one of the best things that's happened in my career. We won because we are a very united team. We were hungry to win. All of us were fighting and screaming. We're looking forward to the other matches in conference."

On court No. 5 while Tori wrapped up his match, sophomore Ramiro Blanco served for the match and completed his 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 win over Juan Ramirez to clinch the match, setting off a loud celebration.

"When Javi won his match, I was on match point," Blanco said. "I think we are like a family. When Jack lost his match, he was so sad, because he wanted to win for us. They all were cheering for us to win. Nacho (Ignacio Velez) and Gary (Goudsmet), they didn't play but they were outside screaming for us every point."

Upstate (12-5 overall, 5-0 A-Sun) earned the doubles point, as all three points were hotly contested. The Spartans took the match at No. 1, as seniors Tori and Renzo Airaldi posted an 8-6 win over Grega Teraz and Charles Bottini. At No. 2, senior Jack Roux and junior Marco Linconir came back from a break down to post a come-from-behind, 9-8 win over Jesus Bandres and Sander Gille to clinch the point after a loss at No. 3.

In singles play, the Bucs were able to take a match at No. 4 before junior Marco Linconir posted a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Jeremy Bonnevalle to give Upstate a 2-1 lead. However, the Bucs (7-7 overall, 4-1 A-Sun) fought back to take a 3-2 lead with a two-set win at No. 4 and a three-set win at No. 2, setting up Upstate's dramatic comeback.

Upstate will get back on the court on Tuesday when it hosts Winthrop in a match that was rescheduled on Jan. 29 due to poor weather. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

Tennis Match Results
#68 USC Upstate 4, #49 East Tennessee State 3
Singles competition
1. Sander Gille (ETSU) def. Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) 7-5, 7-5
2. #97 Grega Teraz (ETSU) def. Renzo Airaldi (UPSTM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
3. Javier Tori (UPSTM) def. Daniel Isaza (ETSU) 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
4. Charles Bottoni (ETSU) def. Jack Roux (UPSTM) 6-1, 6-4
5. Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. Juan Ramierz (ETSU) 6-1, 6-7, 6-4
6. Marco Linconir (UPSTM) def. Jeremy Bonnevalle (ETSU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Javier Tori/Renzo Airaldi (UPSTM) def. Grega Teraz/Charles Bottoni
(ETSU) 8-6
2. Marco Linconir/Jack Roux (UPSTM) def. Jesus Bandres/Sander Gille
(ETSU) 9-8
3. Daniel Isaza/Robin Akser (ETSU) def. Ramiro Blanco/Edgar Rodriguez
(UPSTM) 9-8
Match Notes:
USC Upstate 12-5, 5-0 A-Sun; National ranking #68
East Tennessee State 7-7, 4-1 A-Sun; National ranking #49