|
4/17/2009 - MEN'S TENNIS
Hatters Edge Belmont to Advance to Championship
|
Print
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The second-seeded Stetson Hatters grinded out a 4-2 semifinal victory against the No. 3 Belmont Bruins Friday night at the Buddy Hartsell Tennis Courts on ETSU's campus, advancing to the championship round for the fourth consecutive season.
Two of Stetson’s three singles wins required a decisive third set, and junior Mark Mestan rallied to defeat Belmont's Joao Paoliello, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, at No. 2 singles to clinch the Hatters victory. Cesare Gallo held off the Bruins' Renato Antun 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, at the No. 5 position, and Gokay Celik scored a straight sets victory over Rafael Matos at No. 6 for Stetson’s third singles point.
The Hatters and Bruins played toe-to-toe for the doubles point, splitting matches at Nos. one and two before the team of Gallo and freshman Maksim Levanovich squeaked past Matos and Rodriguez, 9-8 for the match's first point.
The Hatters will now face top-seed and two-time defending champion ETSU in the championship round for the third consecutive season, seeking the school’s first-ever A-Sun title after coming up short in the finals in each of the previous three seasons.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
Stetson 4, Belmont 2
Singles competition
1. Filip Kricka (STET) vs. Javier Rodriguez (BEL) no result
2. Mark Mestan (STET) def. Joao Paoliello (BEL) 4-6, 7-6, 7-5
3. Fausto Rocha (BEL) def. Maksim Levanovich (STET) 6-0, 3-6, 6-1
4. Rodrigo Amaral (BEL) def. Njal Stene (STET) 6-4, 1-6, 6-0
5. Cesare Gallo (STET) def. Renato Antun (BEL) 6-3, 7-6, 6-1
6. Gokay Celik (STET) def. Rafael Matos (BEL) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Renato Antun/Fausto Rocha (BEL) def. Njal Stene/Chris Swanteson (STET) 8-6
2. Mark Mestan/Filip Kricka (STET) def. Joao Paoliello/Felipe Cirne Lima (BEL) 8-4
3. Cesare Gallo/Maksim Levanovich (STET) def. Javier Rodriguez/Rafael Matos (BEL) 9-8
