Presbyterian Clinches Share of SAC 2006 Men's Tennis Regular Season Championship
April 2, 2006

Courtesy Presbyterian College Sports Information Office

CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College men's tennis team defeated No. 37 Tusculum College 6-3 in South Atlantic Conference men's tennis action Sunday afternoon at the Templeton Courts and in the process clinched a share of the 2006 SAC regular season crown. The No. 25-ranked Blue Hose improve to 9-6 overall (5-0 SAC), while Tusculum falls to 11-5 overall (4-1 SAC).

The victory gives the Blue Hose a share of their fourth SAC regular season crown since 2000 when the league began to recognize a regular season title.

The Blue Hose took an early 2-1 lead after doubles as senior Hector Rincon (London, England) and freshman Aaron Chapman (Perth, Australia) defeated TC's sophomore duo of Sergio Espinosa (Caracas, Venezuela) and Carlos Garcia (Caracas, Venezuela) 9-7 at the top flight. PC's senior duo of Nick Osborne (Hutton Rudby, England) and Kshitij Dwivedi (New Delhi, India) defeated freshmen Antonio Oliver (Madrid, Spain) and Leo Guaycurus (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 8-2 at the No. 2 flight. The Pioneers did pick up a point at the No. 3 flight as juniors Pedro Galavis (Caracas, Venezuela) and Julien Jacob (Vancouver, Canada) defeated PC's freshmen duo of Brad Luciuk (Saskatoon, Canada) and Pat Fediuk (Kimberely, Canada) 8-5.

The Blue Hose pulled ahead 4-1 as Rincon defeated Galavis 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and Dwivedi defeated Espinosa 7-5, 6-0 at the No. 2 flight. Osborne clinched the match for Presbyterian with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Oliver at the No. 3 flight.

Tusculum cut the lead to 5-2 as Garcia defeated Chapman 6-4, 7-6 (10-5) at No. 4 singles. The Blue Hose got their sixth point of the match at the No. 5 flight as freshman Andrew Lee (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) defeated Jacob 6-1, 6-2. The Pioneers secured their final point of the match at No. 6 when freshman Nicolas Janssen-Bernard (Montreal, Canada) defeated Fediuk 6-4, 7-5.

The Blue Hose return to action on Tuesday, April 4 with a road match versus North Greenville University at 2:00 pm, while the Pioneers return to action on Friday, April 7 when they host North Greenville University starting at 4:00 pm.

#25 Presbyterian College 6, #37 Tusculum College 3

Singles competition
1. Hector Rincon (PCM) def. Pedro Galavis (TCM) 6-2, 6-1
2. Kshitij Dwivedi (PCM) def. Sergio Espinosa (TCM) 7-5, 6-0
3. Nick Osborne (PCM) def. Antonio Oliver (TCM) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
4. Carlos Garcia (TCM) vs. Aaron Chapman (PCM) no result
5. Andrew Lee (PCM) def. Julien Jacob (TCM) 6-1, 6-2
6. Nicolas Janssen (TCM) def. Patrick Fediuk (PCM) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Hector Rincon/Aaron Chapman (PCM) def. Carlos Garcia/Sergio Espinosa (TCM) 9-7
2. Kshitij Dwivedi/Nick Osborne (PCM) def. Antonio Oliver/Leo Guaycurus (TCM) 8-2
3. Pedro Galavis/Julien Jacob (TCM) def. Patrick Fediuk/Brad Luciuk (PCM) 8-5