KENNESAW, Ga. -- Kennesaw State downed Furman, 4-1, Sunday in men's tennis action at the Betty Siegel Courts in Kennesaw, Ga.
The Paladins won the doubles point to open the match. Graduate student Ivan Mitric combined with freshman Jamie Connel for a 6-1 victory over Daniel Bottie and Seru Tezuka at flight one, but the Owls answered with a win at flight two, where Raul Garcia and Hugo Salmeron slipped past freshmen Cole Burnam and Elijah Poritzky, 6-4. In the decisive flight three contest, sophomore Emil Westling and senior James Roelofse held off Harvey Conway and Kevin Patel, 7-6(8).
Kennesaw State scored four singles points for the victory. Garcia topped Connel, 6-4, 6-3, at flight one, and Tezuka defeated Poritzky, 6-4, 6-4, at flight three. At number four, Patel recorded a 6-1, 6-3 advantage versus Westling, and Botti outlasted Burnam, 6-4, 7-6(3), at number six.Â
Matches at flights two and five were unfinished, both in a third set. Conway won set one, 7-6(6), at flight two, but Mitric answered with a 6-2 victory in set two. Conway led, 1-0, in set three. At flight five, Roelofse won set one, 6-4, but Salmeron took the second set, 6-1, and led, 4-1, in the final set.
The Paladins (8-5) will travel to Florida this week for two matches. Furman will square off at Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday at 5 p.m. then play at South Florida Friday at 10 a.m.
Furman vs Kennesaw State• 03/06/2022 at Kennesaw, Ga. • Betty Siegel Courts
Kennesaw State 4, #66 Furman 1
Singles competition
1. Raul Garcia (KSUM) def. Jamie Connel (FUR) 6-4, 6-3
2. Harvey Conway (KSUM) vs. Ivan Mitric (FUR) 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 1-0, unfinished
3. Seru Tezuka (KSUM) def. Elijah Poritzky (FUR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Kevin Patel (KSUM) def. Emil Westling (FUR) 6-1, 6-3
5. Hugo Salmeron (KSUM) vs. James Roelofse (FUR) 4-6, 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
6. Daniel Botti (KSUM) def. Cole Burnam (FUR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
Doubles competition
1. Ivan Mitric/Jamie Connel (FUR) def. Daniel Botti/Seru Tezuka (KSUM) 6-1
2. Raul Garcia/Hugo Salmeron (KSUM) def. Cole Burnam/Elijah Poritzky (FUR) 6-4
3. Emil Westling/James Roelofse (FUR) def. Harvey Conway/Kevin Patel (KSUM) 7-6 (10-8)
Match Notes: Furman 8-5; National ranking #66 • Kennesaw State 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,3,6)
