Monday, 04/30/2012

Savannah, Ga.----The number one ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University men’s tennis team defeated Wingate 5-0 Monday to advance to the Southeast Region final of the 2012 NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis Championships at Bacon Park.

The Pirates (25-0) will face fourth-seeded Georgia College at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The GCSU Bobcats topped Francis Marion 5-2 Monday. The AASU-GCSU winner advances to the Round of 16 as a part of the 2012 NCAA DII Spring Sports Festival in Louisville, Ky. Wingate, who picked up its first-ever NCAA regional win yesterday against Mount Olive, ends its season at 19-7.

Armstrong swept all three doubles matches for a quick 3-0 lead heading into singles play. The top-ranked duo of Mikk Irdoja and Georgi Rumenov defeated Flavio Rathsam and Neal Towlson 8-1 at number one doubles, then Eudaldo Bonet and Matus Mydla collected an 8-2 win over Ryan Forbes and Diego Martinez at number three doubles. Number 16-ranked Sven Lalic and Pedro Scocuglia finished the doubles sweep with an 8-4 win over Matt Lichtenstein and Drew Owen at the number two flight.

The Pirates took the first set in all six singles matches. Number 32-ranked Lalic closed out a 6-2, 6-1 win over Martinez at the number four singles flight, then Scocuglia clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Forbes at the number five singles position.