SUMTER, S.C. – The Citadel men's tennis team picked up the first two wins of the season Friday afternoon with victories over Benedict and USC Sumter in the USC Sumter Invitational. The Bulldogs started the weekend off with a 9-0 sweep of the Tigers of BC before capping the first day of action with an 8-1 win over the host Fire Ants.

Match Information
Location: Sumter, S.C.
Match 1 Final Score: The Citadel 9, Benedict 0
Match 2 Final Score: The Citadel 8, USC Sumter 1
Records: The Citadel (2-9), Benedict (0-1), USC Sumter (0-1)

Match 1 (9 a.m.): The Citadel 9, Benedict 0
The Bulldogs started their weekend of five matches over three days with a clean sweep of the Benedict Tigers. In doubles action, Gavin Stewart and Willem van Zyl claimed an 8-2 win over Julius Mutetwa and Taj Ballantyne at No. 1 doubles to get things started.

At No. 2 doubles, Roy Hobson and Will Graham joined forces to take down Quentin Eloise and Batsiraii Saurombe, 8-6, while Phillip Quinn and Noah Nawabi defeated Armando Flores and Nikola Aleksic, 8-3, at No. 3.

In singles action, all six Bulldogs won their matches in straight sets. At No. 2 singles, Jack Pyritz allowed Eloise to take just one game from him, claiming a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Nawabi, van Zyl and Graham all held their opponents to just two games allowed. Nawabi defeated Mutetwa 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, van Zyl bested Ballantyne 6-0, 6-2, at No. 4, and Graham won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

At No. 1 singles, Hobson continued his winning streak with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Saurombe, and Stewart rounded out the action with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Aleksic at No. 5 singles.

Match 1 Results
Doubles
1. Gavin Stewart / Willem van Zyl (Citadel) def. Julius Mutetwa / Taj Ballantyne (Benedict) 8-2
2. Roy Hobson / Will Graham (Citadel) def. Quentin Eloise / Batsiraii Saurombe (Benedict) 8-6
3. Phillip Quinn / Noah Nawabi (Citadel) def. Armando Flores / Nikola Aleksic (Benedict) 8-3

Singles
1. Hobson (Citadel) def. Saurombe (BC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Jack Pyritz (Citadel) def. Eloise (BC) 6-1, 6-0
3. Nawabi (Citadel) def. Mutetwa (BC) 6-0, 6-2
4. van Zyl (Citadel) def. Ballantyne (BC) 6-0, 6-2
5. Stewart (Citadel) def. Aleksic (BC) 6-1, 6-2
6. Graham (Citadel) def. Flores (BC) 6-1, 6-1


Match 2 (1 p.m.): The Citadel 8, USC Sumter 1
In the day's second match, the Bulldogs went up a very young, but talented USC Sumter team. The Bulldogs swept through doubles action led by Nawabi and Quinn's 8-4 win at No. 3 over Jorjay Paladines and Jaime Sione.

At No. 1, Stewart and van Zyl once against joined forces to collect an 8-5 win over Leonardo Zancheta and Lucas Rodrigues, while Hobson and Graham bested Israel Rojas and Samuel Cruz, 8-5, at No. 2.

In singles action, Quinn not only won his match at No. 6 over Cruz in straight sets, but he did so without giving up a single game, winning 6-0, 6-0.

Both van Zyl and Stewart gave up just two games each to their opposition. Van Zyl defeated Paladines 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and Stewart beat Albert Rocard 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5.

Hobson extended his winning streak to three matches with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles over Zancheta, and Nawabi rounded out the Bulldog victories with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Rodrigues.

Match 2 Results
Doubles
1. Gavin Stewart / Willem van Zyl (Citadel) def. Leonardo Zancheta / Lucas Rodrigues (USCS) 8-5
2. Roy Hobson / Will Graham (Citadel) def. Israel Rojas / Samuel Cruz (USCS) 8-5
3. Noah Nawabi / Phillip Quinn (Citadel) def. Jorjay Paladines / Jaime Sione (USCS) 8-4

Singles
1. Hobson (Citadel) def. Zancheta (USCS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
2. Rojas (USCS) def. Jack Pyritz (Citadel) 6-4, 6-1
3. Nawabi (Citadel) def. Rodrigues (USCS) 6-3, 6-2
4. van Zyl (Citadel) def. Paladins (USCS) 6-0, 6-2
5. Stewart (Citadel) def. Albert Rocard (USCS) 6-0, 6-2
6. Quinn (Citadel) def. Cruz (USCS) 6-0, 6-0

QUOTABLES FROM COACH KRIESE
"Even though the scores look lopsided in our wins, the matches were very tough," head coach Chuck Kriese said. "The match in the morning against Benedict featured some very strong ball strikers on their team. Every player was dangerous and every player fought hard. We had to fight from behind in a couple of those matches, but we were very glad to get that win.

"Our second match I knew would be difficult. We were losing it down to a service break on all three courts and doubles initially. I knew that you would see Sumter would come out after us because their coach has done a great job of recruiting and has very hungry players that were playing without fear. I'm glad that we came from behind and won both doubles and singles, and I was very proud of the bottom of our lineup that finished quickly to close the match out.

"Roy once again came through with some very tough wins at number one in both matches today. We want to continue with our momentum tomorrow. We know that the Belmont Abbey will have very good ball strikers and they will be bringing their best against us. I have purposely scheduled these five matches this weekend to see if our fitness and our mental toughness are where they need to be. We're looking forward to the challenges of the remainder of the weekend."

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will close out their time in the USC Sumter Invitational tomorrow with a morning match against Belmont Abbey. The 'Dogs will then travel to Knoxville, Tennessee to face Carson-Newman and No. 20 Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 3.

For more information and score updates on The Citadel men's tennis team, please visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelMten on Twitter and @CitadelSports on Twitter and Instagram.