George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
East Carolina
Men's Tennis Gets Past ECU, 4-3
2/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 6, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC - The Colonials men's tennis team saw underclassmen step up to power the squad past East Carolina, 4-3, in their Sunday match-up at the Montclair Country Club for their first dual win of the season.
"We have the strongest team we have had in the past four years," said head coach Greg Munoz. "We also have no easy matches. The goal is to win conference and finish the year ranked. The team is certainly feeling the pressure with high expectations on us."
After dropping the top doubles match to ECU, the Colonials pulled even with an 8-3, victory from Christopher Kushma and Alexander van Gils at No. 2 doubles. Junior Richard Blumenfeld and freshman Viktor Svensson clinched the doubles point for GW at No. 3 doubles with a close 8-6 victory.
"Richard kept the energy high on and off the court," said coach Munoz. "Richard is playing the smartest doubles of his career. He has so much power with every stroke and is a dangerous player from every spot on the court."
Van Gils won quickly in straight sets at No. 3 singles to put GW up 2-0, but ECU was able to pull even with victories at No. 2 and No. 4 singles.
Junior Ugur Atalay stepped up his game at No. 1 singles, getting a chance to avenge a three-set loss last season to ECU's Jaroslav Horvath. Atalay dropped the first set to Horvath 3-6, but was able to give GW the lead when he won his next two sets 6-2, 6-1.
With the dual match coming down to the last two single matches, Svensson and Erik Hannah raised the level of their game at the end. Svensson, at No. 6 singles, dropped his firs set 5-7, but got on a hot streak and rolled in his next two sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Hannah lost his first set in a tiebreaker, 6-7 (5), and was able to pull even at a set a piece with a 6-4 second set. Svensson secured the GW victory before Hannah and his opponent were able to start their third set.
"At this level, it's nice for the guys to finally see they can win," said Munoz. "Every match moving forward will be as tough as this weekend. We need to clean up some simple mistakes and continue to improve our footwork and play smarter tennis."
The Colonials will hit the road this weekend with two matches in Philadelphia and one in New York. GW will take on Penn on Friday, Feb 11, and Atlantic 10 foe Temple on Saturday, Feb. 12 before taking on Columbia on Sunday, Feb 13.
Results: GW 4, ECU 3
Doubles
#1 Atalay/Hannah (GW) lost Horvath/Vliegen 8-5
#2 Kushma / van Gils (GW) def Skalmerud/Tvedt 8-3
#3 Blumenfeld /Svensson (GW) def Mannino/Schmitt 8-6
Singles
#1 Ugur Atalay (GW) def Horvath 3-6 6-2, 6-1
#2 Yan Levinski (GW) lost Mannino 6-2, 6-2
#3 Alexander van Gils (GW) def Skalmerud 6-2, 6-3
#4 Christopher Kushma (GW) lost Vliegen 6-2 6-3
#5 Erik Hannah (GW) lost Schmitt 6-7(5) 6-4, 0-1
#6 Viktor Svensson (GW) def Martinez 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
Players Mentioned
