Georgia culminates dominant season with team title
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Georgia’s Nate Schnugg celebrates a point against Illinois’ G.D. Jones during the Division I Men’s Tennis Championships. Schnugg won at No. 5 singles to help Georgia win the team title. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos.
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The NCAA News
Georgia blanked Illinois, 4-0, to complete a perfect season and claim the 2007 Division I Men’s Tennis Championships team title May 22 in front of a near-capacity home crowd at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
It was the Bulldogs’ fifth team championship, all of which have been won on their home court in Athens.
Georgia secured the doubles point with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. The freshman duo of Jamie Hunt and Nate Schnugg defeated Illinois’ G.D. Jones and Marc Spicijaric, 9-7, in the No. 3 slot, while Travis Helgeson and Matic Omerzel toppled Brandon Davis and Ruben Gonzales, 8-6, at No. 2.
In singles play, Schnugg added to the Bulldogs’ lead with a straight-sets victory over Jones, 6-4, 6-1. Then the nation’s top-ranked player, John Isner, beat fifth-ranked Kevin Anderson, 6-1, 7-6 (1), to extend Georgia’s lead to 3-0. Omerzel clinched the title for the Bulldogs after defeating Gonzales, 7-6 (5), 6-1, at the No. 4 position.
Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz, who also led Georgia teams to championships in 1999 and 2001, said the squad played hard.
“It’s players that win championships, and that’s exactly what they did,” he said. “Illinois played a great match today on every spot, but we came prepared. We had a few butterflies but I told our guys they wouldn’t be normal without them. I’m really proud of every one of my guys.”
Omerzel, who lost the deciding point in Georgia’s 4-2 loss to Pepperdine in the 2006 championship, tallied four wins and was named the most outstanding player in this year’s tournament. The Bulldogs finished the season 32-0. Illinois was 23-9.
In individual play, Virginia’s Somdev Devvarman edged Georgia’s Isner in three sets to claim the singles title.
Devvarman, who was making his second straight appearance in the singles final, won 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (2), to collect the first men’s tennis title in the history of the Cavalier program.
Both Isner and Devvarman remained on serve throughout the first set to force a tiebreak, which Devvarman took, 9-7. Isner couldn’t capitalize on the momentum from a 6-4 second-set victory in the third frame, however. In a repeat of the first stanza, Devvarman and Isner both held serve to force another tiebreaker. Although Isner opened the tiebreak with a minibreak, Devvarman responded by claiming the next five points and went on to complete the win on his fourth ace of the match.
In doubles play, Middle Tennessee’s Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom defeated the defending national champion tandem of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe to win the program’s first NCAA title in any sport.
The victory was special because it was the final match of Blue Raiders head coach Dale Short’s career. Short is retiring after 20 years in charge of the Middle Tennessee program.
“We’re extremely happy to have come out on top today,” Born said. “We are both seniors and our coach is retiring, so we really wanted to win this match. It means a lot to all of us.”
Team results
Round 16
Georgia 4, Florida 0; UCLA 4, Oklahoma St. 0; Virginia 4, Wake Forest 1; Southern California 4, Notre Dame 3; North Carolina St. 4, Texas 3; Baylor 4, Alabama 0; Illinois 4, Mississippi 3; Ohio St. 4, LSU 0.
Quarterfinals
Georgia 4, UCLA 0; Virginia 4, Southern California 1; Baylor 4, North Carolina St. 0; Illinois 4, Ohio St. 2.
Semifinals
Georgia 4, Virginia 1; Illinois 4, Baylor 3.
Championship
Georgia 4, Illinois 0
Doubles: No. 1 — John Isner-Luis Flores, Georgia, vs. Kevin Anderson-Ryan Rowe, Illinois, 7-8 (did not finish); No. 2 — Travis Helgeson-Matic Omerzel, Georgia, def. Brandon Davis-Ruben Gonzales, Illinois, 8-6; No. 3 — Nate Schnugg-Jamie Hunt, Georgia, def. G.D. Jones-Marc Spicijaric, Illinois, 9-7;
Singles: No. 1 — John Isner, Georgia, def. Kevin Anderson, Illinois, 6-1, 7-6(1); No. 2 — Ryan Rowe, Illinois, vs. Luis Flores, Georgia, 7-6(6), 4-2 (did not finish); No. 3 — Travis Helgeson, Georgia, vs. Marc Spicijaric, Illinois, 7-6(4), 4-2 (did not finish); No. 4 — Matic Omerzel, Georgia, def. Ruben Gonzales, Illinois, 6-4, 6-1; No. 5 — Nate Schnugg, Georgia, def. GD Jones, Illinois, 6-4, 6-1; No. 6 — Billy Heiser, Illinois, vs. Jamie Hunt, Georgia, 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 (did not finish).
Individual results
Singles championship: Somdey Devvarman, Virginia, def. John Isner, Georgia, 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(2).
Doubles championship: Marco Born-Andreas Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Kevin Anderson-Ryan Rowe, Illinois, 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4)
Individual results
Singles
First round: John Isner, Georgia, def. Andy Juc, Furman, 6-2, 6-2; Bassam Beidas, Pepperdine, def. Martin Stiegwardt, Georgia St., 6-4, 7-5; Ken Skupski, LSU, def. Todd Paul, Wake Forest, 6-2, 6-3; Bojan Szumanski, Texas Tech, def. Jason Pinsky, Pennsylvania, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Steven Moneke, Ohio St., def. Robbert Lathouwers, Auburn, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Ben Harknett, Rice, def. Philip Therp, UC Santa Barb., 6-4, 6-4; Daniel Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Lars Poerschke, Baylor, 7-5, 7-6; Ivan Puchkarov, Oklahoma St., def. Jamil Al-Agba, Southern California, 6-3, 6-4; Jesse Levine, Florida, def. Treat Huey, Virginia, 6-3, 6-4; Markus Dickhardt, San Diego St., def. Kaden Hensel, Tennessee, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6; Luis Flores, Georgia, def. Haythem Abid, UCLA, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Harel Srugo, Old Dominion, def. Zach Granger, Utah, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0; Stephen Bass, Notre Dame, def. Kaes Van’t Hof, Southern California, 6-2, 6-4; Alex Slovic, Washington, def. Ryan Rowe, Illinois, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Luke Shields, Boise St., def. Nick Rinks, Michigan St., 6-2, 6-1; Robbye Poole, Mississippi, def. Brian Hung, Michigan, 6-4, 6-3; Bryan Koniecko, Ohio St., def. Ryan Preston, Vanderbilt, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Erling Tveit, Mississippi, def. Matt Bruch, Stanford, 4-1 (ret. inj.), Matko Maravic, Michigan, def. Matic Omerzel, Georgia, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1; Luigi D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), def. Marek Sramek, South Ala., 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Greg Ouellette, Florida, def. Clancy Shields, Boise St., 6-2, 6-4; Martin Sayer, Radford, def. Adam Homstrom, Denver, 7-5, 7-6; Elliott Wronski, UNLV, def. Alex Schweizer, Auburn, 6-4, 7-6; Kevin Anderson, Illinois, def. Dejan Cvetkovic, Southern California, 6-4, 6-2; Blake Strode, Arkansas, def. Andreas Weber, Hawaii, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6; Andre Begemann, Pepperdine, def. Dimitar Kutrovsky, Texas, 6-3, 7-6; Devin Mullings, Ohio St., def. David North, Georgia Tech, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Arnau Brugues, Tulsa, def. Chris Surapol, UCLA, 6-2, 6-2; Pierre Mouillon, California, def. Danny Bryan, LSU, 6-3, 6-2; Travis Helgeson, Georgia, def. Henrique Cancado, Old Dominion, 6-4, 6-3; Oleksandr Nedovyesov, Oklahoma St., def. Roy Sichel, Charlotte, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Somdev Devvarman, Virginia, def. Sheeva Parbhu, Notre Dame, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6.
Second round: Isner, Georgia, def. Beidas, Pepperdine, 6-3, 6-1; Skupski, LSU, def. Szumanski, Texas Tech, 6-4, 6-3; Moneke, Ohio St., def. Harknett, Rice, 7-6, 7-5; Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Puchkarov, Oklahoma St., 6-4, 6-2; Levine, Florida, def. Dickhardt, San Diego St., 6-2, 6-2; Flores, Georgia, def. Harel Srugo, Old Dominion, 6-3, 6-2; Slovic, Washington, def. Bass, Notre Dame, 6-3, 6-4; Poole, Mississippi, def. Shields, Boise St., 6-2, 2-0 (inj.); Koniecko, Ohio St., def. Tveit, Mississippi, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), def. Maravic, Michigan, 6-3, 6-2; Ouellette, Florida, def. Sayer, Radford, 7-6, 6-3; Anderson, Illinois, def. Wronski, UNLV, 6-1, 6-3; Begemann, Pepperdine, def. Strode, Arkansas, 6-3, 6-3; Brugues, Tulsa, def. Mullings, Ohio St., 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Helgeson, Georgia, def. Mouillon, California, 6-3, 6-4; Devvarman, Virginia, def. Nedovyesov, Oklahoma St., 6-3, 1-0 (inj.).
Round of 16: Isner, Georgia, def. Skupski, LSU, 7-6(8), 7-5; Moneke, Ohio St., def. Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), 7-5, 6-3; Levine, Florida, def. Flores, Georgia, 6-1, 6-3; Slovic, Washington, def. Poole, Mississippi, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), def. Koniecko, Ohio St., 6-2, 6-3; Anderson, Illinois, def. Ouellette, Florida, 6-3, 7-6(3); Brugues, Tulsa, def. Begemann, Pepperdine, 7-6(4), 6-4; Devvarman, Virginia, def. Helgeson, Georgia, 6-1, 6-2.
Quarterfinals: Isner, Georgia, def. Moneke, Ohio St., 6-3, 6-2; Slovic, Washington, def. Levine, Florida, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Anderson, Illinois, def. D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Devvarman, Virginia, def. Brugues, Tulsa, 6-0, 6-2.
Semifinals: Isner, Georgia, def. Slovic, Washington, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4; Devvarman, Virginia, def. Anderson, Illinois, 7-6, 5-7, 6-3.
Championship: Devvarman, Virginia, def. Isner, Georgia, 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-6(2).
Doubles
First round: Luis Flores-John Isner, Georgia, def. Dan Hanegby-Saurabh Kohli, Brown, 6-4, 6-1; Adam Hubble-Ben Rogers, Tennessee, def. Brian Hung-Matko Maravic, Michigan, 7-6(2), 6-2; Mariusz Adamski-Todd Paul, Wake Forest, def. Dimitar Kutrovsky-Josh Zavala, Texas, 6-4, 6-4; Nicolas Delgado-Pedro Graber, Virginia Tech, def. Matt Bruch-Blake Muller, Stanford, 7-6(2), 6-4; Danny Bryan-Colt Gaston, LSU, def. Tim Bradshaw-Brady Crosby, Western Mich., 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Markus Dickhardt-Christian Groh, San Diego St., def. Diego Camacho-Ross Cunningham, Tulsa, 7-6(4), 6-4; Kevin Anderson-Ryan Rowe, Illinois, def. Dan Buikema-Mathieu Thibaudeau, Alabama, 7-6(3), 7-5; Sam Chang-Jonathas Sucupira, Florida St., def. Damar Johnson-Slavko Radman, Louisville, 6-3, 7-6 (2); Alexandru Cojanu-Colin O’Brien, William & Mary, def. David Galic-Matija Zgaga, Baylor, 6-3, 6-2; Marco Born-Andreas Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Colin Mascall-Blake Strode, Arkansas, 6-2, 6-4; James Cluskey-Ken Skupski, LSU, def. Piotr Dilaj-Luke Shields, Boise St., 7-5, 6-3; Jesse Levine-Greg Ouellette, Florida, def. Chris Klingemann-Devin Mullings, Ohio St., 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Eric Clasesson-Erling Tveit, Mississippi, def. Nick Cavaday-William Noblitt, North Carolina St., 6-2, 6-1; Josh Cohen-Luigi D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), def. Christian Rojmar-Bojan Szumanski, Texas Tech, 7-6(1), 6-1; Ryan Keckley-Sheeva Parbhu, Notre Dame, def. Henrique Cancado-Harel Srugo, Old Dominion, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5; Somdev Devvarman-Treat Huey, Virginia, def. Travis Helgeson-Matic Omerzel, Georgia, 7-6(5), 6-3.
Round of 16: Flores-Isner, Georgia, def. Hubble-Rogers, Tennessee, 7-6(5), 7-6(3); Adamski-Paul, Wake Forest, def. Delgado-Graber, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 6-4; Bryan-Gaston, LSU, def. Dickhardt-Groh, San Diego St., 6-2, 6-4; Anderson-Rowe, Illinois, def. Chang-Sucupira, Florida St., 6-2, 5-7, 6-3; Born-Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Cojanu-O’Brien, William & Mary, 6-4, 6-4; Levine-Ouelette, Florida, def. Cluskey-Skupski, LSU, 6-4, 6-3; Claesson-Tveit, Mississippi, def. Cohen-D’Agord, Miami (Fla.), def. 6-3, 7-5; Devvarman-Huey, Virginia, def. Cancado-Srugo, Old Dominion, 6-1, 6-3.
Quarterfinals: Adamski-Paul, Wake Forest, def. Flores-Isner, Georgia, 7-5, 7-5; Anderson-Rowe, Illinois, def. Bryan-Gaston, LSU, 6-4, 6-4; Born-Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Levine-Ouelette, Florida, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2; Devvarman-Huey, Virginia, def. Claesson-Tveit, Mississippi, 6-4, 6-4.
Semifinals: Anderson-Rowe, Illinois, def. Adamski-Paul, Wake Forest, 7-5, 7-5; Born-Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Devvarman-Huey, Virginia, 6-3, 7-6.
Championship: Born-Siljestrom, Middle Tenn., def. Anderson-Rowe, Illinois, 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4).