ROCK HILL, S.C. - Deni Mehagic defeated Andrew Owen on court no.
2 in a third set tiebreaker to propel no. 2 Anderson to the 2011
Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis tournament,
capping off a wild weekend at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.
For his play in the Championship match, Mehagic was named the 2011
Food Lion SAC tournament Most Valuable Player.
With the win, Anderson accepts the South Atlantic Conference
automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Regional tournament.
Anderson opened the match winning all three doubles matches to go
up 3-0 heading into singles. Stan Atema and Daniel Gonzalez topped
Owen and Flavio Rathsam on court no. 1, 8-4, for the first Trojans
point, while Mehagic and Ilya Zakharov topped Matthew Lichtenstein
and Braeden Patchell shortly after on court no. 2, 8-5.
Fernando Montemurro and Greg Machado took Jerome Branker and Trey
Halbauer to the limit on court no. 3, sending the set into the
tiebreaker, but the Anderson duo completed the Trojans sweep with
their 9-8 (8-6) victory.
The Bulldogs were not done though, battling back in singles play as
Patchell defeated Gonzalez on court no. 4 to put Wingate on the
board, winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. Ryan Forbes cut into the
lead as well, topping Loic Ambrose on court no. 6, 6-4, 7-6
(8-6).
Rathsam tied the match up at three apiece, defeating Zakharov on
court no. 3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1, evening the score with three matches to
play.
Montemurro gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the contest,
winning a tight contest over Halbauer on court no. 5, 7-6 (7-2),
7-5, giving Wingate a chance to clinch the match with two courts
still playing.
However, Atema rallied after dropping the second set on court no. 1
to take the third set and match over Lichtenstein, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to
even the score, leaving all spectators watching the back and forth
play on court no. 2 between Mehagic and Owen.
The duo was evenly matched as they swapped the first two sets with
identical scores of 7-5. Heading into the third set with all play
around them stopped, the duo was cheered on by their respective
fans and teammates as they headed into the tiebreaker. Mehagic was
able to overcome Owen in the tiebreaker to take the third set, 7-6
(7-4).
Singles competition
1. Stan Atema (AUM) def. Matthew Lichtenstein (WIN) 4-6, 6-4,
6-2
2. Deni Mehagic (AUM) def. Andrew Owen (WIN) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6
(7-4)
3. Flavio Rathsam (WIN) def. Ilya Zakharov (AUM) 5-7, 6-0, 6-1
4. Braeden Patchell (WIN) def. Daniel Gonzalez (AUM) 6-1, 6-2
5. Fernando Montemurro (WIN) def. Trey Halbauer (AUM) 7-6 (7-2),
7-5
6. Ryan Forbes (WIN) def. Loic Ambrose (AUM) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
Doubles competition
1. Stan Atema/Daniel Gonzalez (AUM) def. Andrew Owen/Flavio Rathsam
(WIN) 8-4
2. Deni Mehagic/Ilya Zakharov (AUM) def. Matthew
Lichtenstein/Braeden Patchell (WIN) 8-5
3. Jerome Branker/Trey Halbauer (AUM) def. Fernando Montemurro/Greg
Machado (WIN) 9-8 (8-6)
Match Notes
#2 Anderson 13-8
#1 Wingate 17-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,6,3,5,1,2)
2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis
Championship
Due to weather on the courts, the start time has been pushed back
to 11 a.m.
Anderson receives the SAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Regional
tournament
