College Tennis News - No. 1 USC Men Shut Down No. 7 Georgia 4-0

ATHENS, GA. -- The No. 1 USC men's tennis team snagged a top-10 win in decisive fashion by capping off another victorious trip to Athens, Ga., with a 4-0 win over No. 7 host Georgia. In doing so, the Trojans finish the second edition of the Pac-12/SEC Showdown with a winning effort, having also beaten No. 17 Florida yesterday to go along with two wins in last year's event. The UGA courts were familiar territory for the Trojans, who have won three of their last six NCAA Championships in Athens, including last year's title run.

"Beating Georgia in Georgia is like winning a championship NCAA match. It's a great atmosphere," USC head coach Peter Smith said. "Quality tennis always equals a great experience for us."

USC again showed its comfort level in Athens by striking quickly in doubles. Sparked by a 6-2 win by top-ranked USC pair Yannick Hanfmann and Roberto Quiroz over UGA's #16 team of Oosterbaan/Wagland, the Trojans kept firing off wins. Fellow NCAA vets Max de Vroome and Eric Johnson would team up on court two for a 6-3 win over UGA's #34 Diaz/Smith, and that had USC leading its host 1-0 out of the gates.

In singles, Hanfmann and Quiroz again hit the finish line first. Both members of the 2012 and 2014 championship teams in Athens, the seniors made themselves at home in Georgia's indoor facility once again. #68 Quiroz drummed up the first singles win on a 7-5, 6-2 upset of #15 Nathan Pasha on court two to make it 2-0 Trojans. #3 Hanfmann, meanwhile, was up against #32 Wayne Montgomery on court one, and the USC senior put his team in position for victory with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win there. Fellow senior Eric Johnson also was in familiar territory in Athens. He'd get the clincher on a three-set battle in which he took down Georgia's #101 Nick Wood with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 decision that put a stop to the match with the Trojans holding that 4-0 victory.

Now 5-0 on the year, the Trojans return home to Marks Stadium for a doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 7). USC will first face UC Irvine at 2:30 p.m. before taking on San Diego State at 6:30 p.m. that day.

Pac-12/SEC Showdown
#1 USC 4, #7 Georgia 0
Feb. 1, 2015 - Athens, Ga.
DOUBLES
(1) #1 Hanfmann/Quiroz (USC) def. #16 Oosterbaan/Wagland (UGA) - 6-2
(2) de Vroome/Johnson (USC) def. #34 Diaz/Smith (UGA) - 6-3
(3) #53 Montgomery/Pasha (UGA) vs. Crystal/Farren (USC) - 4-4 susp.
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 1, 2
SINGLES
(1) #3 Yannick Hanfmann (USC) def. #32 Wayne Montgomery (UGA) - 6-4, 7-6 (4)
(2) #68 Roberto Quiroz (USC) def. #15 Nathan Pasha (UGA) - 7-5, 6-2
(3) #11 Austin Smith (UGA) vs. #8 Jonny Wang (USC) - 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 1-2 susp.
(4) Eric Johnson (USC) def. #101 Nick Wood (UGA) - 6-1, 4-6, 7-5*
(5) Ben Wagland (UGA) vs. #58 Nick Crystal (USC) - 1-1 susp.
(6) Paul Oosterbaan (UGA) vs. #104 Max de Vroome (USC) - 0-1 susp.
Order of finish: 2, 1, 4