#1 Georgia Defeats Men's Tennis, 7-0

Feb. 24, 2007

Athens, Ga. - In the first match of its spring break trip, the Furman men's tennis team faced its toughest challenge of the season thus far against the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. The Paladins fell 7-0 to the undefeated Bulldogs in a rematch of their 2006 NCAA Tournament match. Furman fell to 4-5 overall, while Georgia remained unblemished at 9-0.

Georgia jumped out to the 1-0 lead, winning the doubles point for the ninth time in as many tries. Luis Flores and Nate Schnugg topped Furman's Ryan Friend and Jordan Walters, 8-0, at flight two. While the other two matches were much more competitive, Georgia's fifth-ranked Travis Helgeson and Matic Omerzel defeated Brian Crook and Scott Kahler at number one to secure the doubles point.

In singles, Furman faced four of the top 20 players in the country. No. 3 John Isner posted a 6-2, 6-1 win over Andy Juc at flight one. Chris Gilli dropped a 6-2, 6-2 match to 13th-ranked Travis Helgeson at number two. Georgia clinched the match with ninth-ranked Luis Flores' 6-2, 6-1 victory over Daniel Knause. Georgia swept the final three singles matches for the shutout win.

Furman will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when it challenges the No. 32 Tennessee Volunteers at the Knoxville Racquet Club at 1 p.m.

#1 Georgia 7, #73 Furman 0
Doubles
1. #5 Travis Helgeson/Matic Omerzel (UGA) def. Brian Crook/Scott Kahler (FU), 8-5
2. Luis Flores/Nate Schnugg (UGA) def. Ryan Friend/Jordan Walters (FU), 8-0
3. Ricardo Gonzalez/Josh Varela (UGA) def. Chris Gilli/Andy Juc (FU), 8-6

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles
1. #3 John Isner (UGA) def. Andy Juc (FU) 6-2, 6-1
2. #13 Travis Helgeson (UGA) def. Chris Gilli (FU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #9 Luis Flores (UGA) def. Daniel Knause (FU) 6-2, 6-1
4. #20 Matic Omerzel (UGA) def. Jordan Walters (FU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Ricardo Gonzalez (UGA) def. Ryan Friend (FU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Josh Varela (UGA) def. Brian Crook (FU) 6-1, 7-5

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6