Top-Ranked Pirates Claim Fifth Straight PBC Tournament Championship
NORCROSS, Ga. - After a rain delay and a venue change, the
top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's tennis team successfully
defended its Peach Belt Conference tournament title with a 5-1 win
over No. 9-ranked USC Aiken on Sunday afternoon at the indoor
Racquet Club of the South facility in Norcross.
The Pirates (24-1) won their fifth straight league tournament
title by taking two of three doubles matches, then winning three
straight-set singles matches against the Pacers (18-4), who were
making their first-ever appearance in the PBC Tournament
championship match.
Fifth-ranked Paul Bishop and Mikk Irdoja defeated ninth-ranked
Dagoberto Darezzo and Edward Horne, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles, while
No. 10-ranked Rafael Array and Tim Johannsen beat No. 22-ranked
Bruno Seves and Filipe Garcia, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles. USC Aiken
picked up its doubles point with a 9-8 (7-5) win by Christopher
Kaetz and Gregory Andrade over Eudaldo Bonet and Akos Torok.
Top-ranked Bonet, the PBC's Player and Freshman of the Year,
collected a 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 6-ranked Seves at No. 1 singles
for the Pirates. No. 23-ranked Bishop notched a 6-3, 6-0 win over
No. 21-ranked Darezzo at No. 2 singles, then No. 25-ranked Irdoja
notched a 6-0, 6-3 win over Horne at No. 3 singles.
Bonet was named the 2009 PBC Tournament singles MVP, while Bishop
and Irdoja were named the tournament doubles MVPs.
AASU will now advance to the NCAA Southeast Regional, which will
take place on May 7-8, and begin its NCAA DII National Title
defense.
