ATLANTA, Ga. – The Citadel men's tennis team split a pair of matches to conclude their time in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday after having the first three matches of the weekend postponed or cancelled due to rain. The Bulldogs started the day off with a hard-fought, 9-0 loss at the hands of five-time NAIA National Champions Georgia Gwinnett before bouncing back with an 8-1 win over Oglethorpe.

Match Information
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Match 1 Final Score: Georgia Gwinnett 9, The Citadel 0
Match 2 Final Score: The Citadel 8, Oglethorpe 1
Records: The Citadel (5-12), Georgia Gwinnett (4-0), Oglethorpe (1-0)

Match 1 Rundown: Georgia Gwinnett 9, The Citadel 0
After having Friday and Saturday's action washed out due to continual rains soaking the southeast, the Bulldogs finally hit the courts on Sunday to face a strong Georgia Gwinnett program. The Grizzlies swept doubles action, including an 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles by Valentino Caratini and Ayed Zatar over Willem van Zyl and Gavin Stewart.

At No. 2 doubles, Roy Hobson and Will Graham dropped an 8-4 decision to Federico Bonacia and Gregor Hutterer. Phillip Quinn and Noah Nawabi fell 8-1 at No. 3 to Daniel Czepielewski and F. Herrera Duran.

In singles action, Nawabi managed to take a set from Rafael Coutinho at No. 3 singles. Coutinho claimed the first set, 6-4, with Nawabi bouncing back for the 5-7 win in set two, but Coutinho pulled away in the third set, winning 6-2.

The other five singles matches were claimed by the Grizzlies in straight sets. At No. 4 singles, van Zyl claimed eight games from Jose Dugo, falling 6-4, 6-4. At No. 5, Stewart took five total games, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Caratini.

Quinn claimed three games from Mika Kosonen, falling 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles, and Hobson took three games from Bonacia at No. 1, falling 6-2, 6-1. Jack Pyritz rounded out the first match with a 6-1, 6-1 loss at No. 2 singles to Duran.

Match 1 Results
Doubles
1. Valentino Caratini / Ayed Zatar (GGC) def. Willem van Zyl / Gavin Stewart (CIT) 8-2
2. Federico Bonacia / Gregor Hutterer (GGC) def. Roy Hobson / Will Graham (CIT) 8-4
3. Daniel Czepielewski / F. Herrera Duran (GGC) def. Phillip Quinn / Noah Nawabi (CIT) 8-1

Singles
1. Bonacia (GGC) def. Hobson (CIT) 6-2, 6-1
2. Duran (GGC) def. Jack Pyritz (CIT) 6-1, 6-1
3. Rafael Coutinho (GGC) def. Nawabi (CIT) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
4. Jose Dugo (GGC) def. van Zyl (CIT) 6-4, 6-4
5. Caratini (GGC) def. Stewart (CIT) 6-3, 6-2
6. Mika Kosonen (GGC) def. Quinn (CIT) 6-2, 6-1


Match 2 Rundown: The Citadel 8, Oglethorpe 1
The day's second match, which was an exhibition for Oglethorpe, started with the Bulldogs sweeping through doubles action over the Stormy Petrels, including an 8-2 win at No. 2 by Will Graham and Hobson over Zoe Raymond and Calvin Schneider.

At No. 1 doubles, Stewart and van Zyl teamed up for an 8-3 win over Walker Benson and Richard Johnson, while Quinn and Nawabi bested Connor Sisson and Michael Santaloci, 8-7, at No. 3.

In singles action, van Zyl wasted little time with Raymond at No. 4 singles, winning 6-1, 6-1. Nawabi and Stewart also easily handled their matches at No. 3 and No. 5 with both claiming 6-2, 6-1 wins. Nawabi defeated Johnson and Stewart took down Matthew Magee.

At No. 2 singles, Pyritz bested Santaloci 6-1, 6-3, and at No. 6 singles, Quinn defeated Schneider 6-2, 6-2. No. 1 singles saw Oglethorpe's Benson win the first set, 5-7, before Hobson put the match away with 6-1, 6-4 wins in the next two sets.

Match 2 Results
Doubles
1. Gavin Stewart / Willem van Zyl (CIT) def. Walker Benson / Richard Johnson (OU) 8-3
2. Will Graham / Roy Hobson (CIT) def. Zoe Raymond / Calvin Schneider (OU) 8-2
3. Phillip Quinn / Noah Nawabi (CIT) def. Connor Sisson / Michael Santaloci (OU) 8-7

Singles
1. Benson (OU) def. Hobson (CIT) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
2. Jack Pyritz (CIT) def. Santaloci (OU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Nawabi (CIT) def. Johnson (OU) 6-2, 6-1
4. van Zyl (CIT) def. Raymond (OU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Stewart (CIT) def. Matthew Magee (OU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Quinn (CIT) def. Schneider (OU) 6-2, 6-2

QUOTABLES FROM COACH KRIESE
"The team moved forward this weekend," said head coach Chuck Kriese. "We competed well against five-time NAIA champion Georgia Gwinnett, and we pushed them in most of the matches. That team was probably one of the best teams we played this year. Our guys went toe-to-toe with them and made them work the whole match. It was obvious to see the growth and where we are headed.

"We finished the day with a very good win over Oglethorpe," Kriese continued. "The guys played strong the whole match. They did all the little things well and took care of leads when they had them. We need a lot more reps, and need to keep this growth pattern going. It is disappointing that we got rained out of some matches Saturday, but we plan on using those missed dates wisely."

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will travel back to Central, South Carolina on Friday, March 1 for a 7 p.m. match against Southern Wesleyan. The match is a makeup for Friday's match that was rained out. The Citadel will then travel up to Raleigh, North Carolina for a 9 a.m., neutral-site match against Penn on Monday, March 4. The 'Dogs then make the quick trek over to UNCG for a 4 p.m. Southern Conference match.

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.