Score: No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett 7, Kennesaw State 2
Records: Georgia Gwinnett (1-0), Kennesaw State (0-2)
Up Next: Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Mercer, 2:30 p.m.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The Kennesaw State's men's tennis team dropped a tough match at the nation's No. 1-ranked NAIA team, Georgia Gwinnett, Saturday afternoon in Lawrenceville, Ga.
 
Jake Bouchillon won his singles match and Lucas de Torres Curth and Simon Pritchard won their doubles match to earn the points for the Owls (0-2) as the match was scored using the nine-point NAIA format. It was the season opener for GGC (1-0), the three-time defending NAIA national champions.
 
"We played a good dual match today," said Director of Tennis Eduardo Rincon. "The format we played today allowed us to play a lot of tennis, which is what we were looking for in playing Georgia Gwinnett. We tried a few different things in doubles that we can potentially use moving forward. It's also very good to have Manuel back even if he didn't play singles. Jake won a great match today coming back from behind. He really stepped up his game winning 18 out of the last 20 points."
 
Bouchillon won his singles matches in straight sets, beating Sergio Valinotti 6-4 in the first set and 7-5 in the second. Drew Wendel took his match to the third and final set, beating Rafael Coutinho 6-4 in the second, before succumbing in the final set 10-6.
 
Pritchard and de Torres Curth teamed for a doubles victory over Coutinho and Valinotti, beating them 8-6.
 
The Owls other singles win came from Drew Lahey as he defeated Max Voglgruber, 6-3, 6-4, in an exhibition match.
 
Kennesaw State returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Mercer at 2:30 p.m.

Singles
1. #1 Kevin Konfederak (GGC) def. Simon Pritchard (KSU) 6-0, 6-3
2. #2 Jordan Cox (GGC) def. Sam Slade (KSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Gilad Berman (GGC) def. Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Rafael Coutinho (GGC) def. Drew Wendel (KSU) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6)
5. #26 Connor Clements (GGC) def. Lucas de Torres Curth (KSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Jake Bouchillon (KSU) def. #50 Sergio Valinotti (GGC) 6-4, 7-5
 
Doubles
1. #1 Kevin Konfederak/Jordan Cox (GGC) def. Drew Wendel/Miller Durham (KSU) 8-6
2. Gilad Berman/Connor Clements (GGC) def. Jake Bouchillon/Manuel Castellanos (KSU) 8-4
3. Lucas deTorres Curth/Simon Pritchard (KSU) def. Rafael Coutinho/Sergio Valinotti (GGC) 8-6
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's tennis news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUMensTennis or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.

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