MACON, GA. – The Furman men's tennis team got its fall season underway this past weekend participating at the Mercer Gridiron Classic in Macon, Ga., which was hosted by Mercer at the John Drew Tennis Center.
The Paladins were one of 10 teams participating in the three-day tournament along with Alabama State, Clemson, Jacksonville State, Georgia College, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Mercer, Middle Georgia State, North Florida, and Troy.
Furman sent eight players to the Mercer Gridiron Classic in
Walker Allen,
Cole Burnam,
Nicolas Dispas,
Sam Fancutt,
Theophile Joly,
Connor Laymon,
John Rado, and
Nico Snyder.
The opening day on Friday saw the Paladins collect three singles wins from Dispas, Joly, and Laymon. Dispas defeated Alin Fatu of Jacksonville State in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in Flight A2, while Joly earned a 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Georgia State's McKane Johnson at Flight A1. Playing in Flight C, Laymon topped Mauricio Olschansky in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
In Friday's doubles action, Laymon and
Cole Burnam went 2-0 playing at Flight C. The duo began the day with a 6-2 victory versus Olschansky and Gianmarco Pitotti of Middle Georgia State. The teammates followed with a 6-0 win against Middle Georgia State's Pedro Tence and Austin Aquino.
Furman recorded a total of seven victories Saturday including four in singles and three in doubles.
The Paladins picked up two wins at Flight A2 from Dispas and Rado and one from Allen at Flight B1, while Laymon added a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Middle Georgia State's Nick Dufner. Dispas collected a 6-4, 4-6, 10-5 win against Bruno Vietri of North Florida and Rado topped Matis Amier of Alabama State in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Allen also tallied a straight set win over Middle Georgia State's Samyak Bajracharya, 6-1, 6-2.
Burnam and Laymon stayed undefeated at Flight C with their 6-0 victory against Tence and Aquino of Middle Georgia State. Furman compiled two wins at Flight A from Rado/Snyder and Dispas/Joly. Rado and Snyder won 6-1 against Bajracharya and Daniel Garcia of Middle Georgia State while Dispas and Joly topped Alabama State's Matteo Lataste and Lun Obrul, 6-4.
The Paladins return to action October 10-14 traveling to Cary, N.C., for the ITA Carolina Regional Championship.
