May 13, 2006

Athens, GA - The University of Georgia men's tennis team (26-0) advanced to the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament with a 4-0 win over Furman (20-11) on Saturday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The match-clinching win came off the racquet of senior captain Antonio Ruiz as he defeated Greg Maarschalk, 6-1, 7-5. The win also marked the 400th of Manuel Diaz's 18-year career as Georgia's head coach.

Georgia won the doubles point for the 23rd time in 25 tries on the season. Georgia's ninth-ranked duo of John Isner and Antonio Ruiz were the first ones off the court with an 8-3 victory over Ben Pauluhn and Greg Maarshalk. Luis Flores and Matic Omerzel teamed up to clinch the doubles point with an 8-3 victory over Bo Ladyman and Brian Crook at the second position.

In singles play, Isner made it a 2-0 Georgia advantage as he defeated Pauluhn at the top spot, 6-2, 6-2, winning his 23rd straight match. Flores extended the lead to 3-0, setting Ruiz up for the clinch, as he topped Andy Juc by a 6-2, 6-2 score at the second position.

Singles

1. #2 John Isner (UGA) def. Ben Pauluhn (FU) 6-2, 6-2

2. #19 Luis Flores (UGA) def. Andy Juc (FU) 6-2, 6-2

3. Antonio Ruiz (UGA) def. Greg Maarschalk (FU) 6-1, 7-5

4. #64 Matic Omerzel (UGA) vs. Bo Ladyman (FU) DNF

5. #50 Strahinja Bobusic (UGA) vs. Daniel Knause (FU) DNF

6. Joshua Varela (UGA) vs. Chris Gilli (FU) DNF

Doubles

1. #9 Isner/Ruiz (UGA) def. Maarschalk/Pauluhn (FU) 8-3

2. #50 Omerzel/Flores (UGA) def. Crook/Ladyman (FU) 8-3

3. #20 Bobusic/Purcell (UGA) vs. Juc/Kahler (FU) DNF