Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. - The men's tennis team ended their season with an exciting match today at the KSU Tennis Complex, a six-hour marathon which went to Mercer by a final score of 5-2.  All of the top three matches in singles went three sets, as the fans were treated to some high-spirited tennis from both squads.

Mercer (9-9, 3-7 A-Sun) took the early advantage from the Owls (7-14, 1-9 A-Sun) with victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, clinching the doubles point.  The Owls roared back at No. 1 doubles, however, and took the match 8-7 (3).  It was the first time in five matches that had gone to a tiebreak that the pairing of Simon Janik and Michael Langel were able to pull out the victory.

"I was really excited that we were able to go out there and get some momentum back for our team today," commented Langel.  "I have had a lot of fun playing doubles with SImon this season, and I look forward to improving as a team next season."

In singles, which were played on three courts due to the women's match being played simultaneously, the top three for the Owls all won their first sets in tight affairs.  Mercer swayed the momentum back in their favor by winning each of the second sets, however, creating a deciding set at all three positions.  At No. 2 singles, Tyler Mills succumbed to Fernando Armendaris of Mercer, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.  Shortly after, the Owls got on the board when Gokalp Ozdemir fought off a late charge by Peter Tauchner of Mercer, winning 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-4.  The last match of the three involved the No. 1 showdown between Simon Janik and Evandro Rosindo.  In a seesaw affair which saw Rosindo take a 6-7, 6-2, 5-1 lead, Janik fought back from the brink of elimination to force a third-set tiebreaker, before finally dropping the match 7-1 in the tiebreaker.

The team match was decided almost five hours after it had begun, when David Barton of the Bears downed Michael Langel of the Owls at No. 4 singles, winning 6-4, 6-3.  In the remaining matches, Gianni Kubin had one of his best performances of the year in dismantling Bear senior Matt Poleon, 7-5, 6-2.  At No. 6, the Bears picked up their fifth point when Adam Hunt downed freshman Elliot Kahler, 6-4, 7-6(3), shortly after 7:00 p.m.

"I am disappointed that we weren't able to pull it out today," commented head coach T.J. Greggs, "but the men fought so hard today out there, and Mercer fought hard as well.  These were two teams who were all but eliminated from postseason consideration today, but you would never know it from the fight that both teams showed."

The youthful Owls look to 2010-2011, when they will return everyone from their 2009-2010 squad, as their entire roster consists of freshmen and sophomores.