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NCAA Tennis Tourney -- Saturday's Action -- Women and Men Advance


Saturday was another beautiful weather day in Athens-town.

Graduation activities were essentially complete, and it was a little easier to get around in God's Country.

And your UGA women's and men's tennis teams both advanced in the NCAA tourney. In the early afternoon action, the WTEN Dawgs blanked Charleston Southern 4-0 to advance to the second round (actually being played Sunday afternoon, as I write). Later in the day, the MTEN Dawgs shut out Florida State 4-0 to advance to the round of 16, which commences in Waco on Thursday.

Stacey and I saw just a bit of the women's match. Appeared to be competitive only at #1 singles. Dawgs were on a roll elsewhere. Should face a tougher opponent in Duke today.

On the men's side, seniors Nathan Pasha and Eric Diaz (playing for the last time at home) both had excellent days. Eric teamed with Paul Oosterbaan for a quick 8-2 victory at #3 doubles. [Stacey and I sat right on Court 3 for both Friday's and Saturday's matches. The fans tend to cluster near Courts 1 and 2, and we were pleased to support these guys on 3. This newly formed team looks good. Hope their success continues as the competition heats up in Waco.] Nathan teamed with Wayne Montgomery (another relatively new pairing) in doubles. They were up a break at 7-6, serving for the match -- when UGA's #1 team of Austin Smith and Ben Wagland (who also happen to be the nation's #1 doubles team) beat them to the punch and finished off the Noles 8-6.

In singles, at #2, Austin cruised 6-2, 6-2 to give the Dawgs a second point. Nate was next at #3, defeating his former roommate Marco Nunez, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. [Marco was a Dawg back in 2013. You may recall that he stepped up in the 6 spot when KU Singh departed the team just before the tourney -- and helped the Dawgs make their way to the final four. Marco transferred to FSU after that season.] Again, Stacey and I sat on Court 3 to follow Nathan as we always do. The first set was a battle that came down to just a point here and a point there. Nate prevailed in the breaker. Marco got a little frustrated in the second, and Nate finished him off. A good final outing for Nathan. The fourth point appeared to be coming from either Nick Wood at #5 (who won the first set -- and was in a second set tiebreaker) or Paul at #6 (who won the first set -- and was soon to close out the 2nd). As is the custom in college tennis, we fans shifted our attention and support toward that end of the facility -- in anticipation of that final point. But those guys struggled a bit to finish off their opponents, and Wayne Montgomery (our #1 -- the only Dawg going on the upper courts because Austin and Nathan were finished), slipped in and took the clinch with a 6-4, 6-3 win. Wayne was unusually demonstrative on Saturday, and it was good to see that fire.

A good day for our boys. Manny noted that it was as complete a match as we have played all year. MTEN Dawgs head to Waco Monday morning. I hope to have a little pre-tourney info later in the week.

By the way, I also ran across a couple of good stories on Nate as he departs -- from UGA Sports Info and Online Athens.

Real-time note: WTEN Dawgs have won the doubles point against Duke on Sunday afternoon -- and have won 4 of 4 completed first sets. GoDawgs!

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