MEN'S TENNIS EDGED BY GEORGIA STATE 4-3

Sunday, March 28

Towson, Md.

9:00 a.m.

James Madison University

Georgia State

3/28/2010 8:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis

TOWSON, Md., March 28, 2010 - Georgia State narrowly edged James Madison 4-3 in the finale of the Colonial Athletic Association Round Robin Tournament at the Towson Center Tennis Courts on Sunday.

The loss snaps JMU's winning streak at three matches and drops the Dukes to 13-8 overall and 3-5 in the CAA. GSU won its sixth consecutive match and is 13-5 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

The Dukes took the early 1-0 lead with a 2-1 win in doubles play, but the Panthers rallied for four wins in singles to seal the victory.

Senior Mike Smith (Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson) combined with junior Matt King (Lorton, Va./Robinson) to give the Dukes the early lead in doubles play, beating Trenton Spinks and Jackson Moore 8-6 at No. 1. Junior Yaroslav Voznenko (Kherson, Ukraine/Kherson Technical School) and sophomore Ville Maaranen (Joensuu, Finland/Joenssun Lukio) sealed the point with an 8-6 win at No. 2 over Henri Mangin and Victor Valente.

In singles play, sophomore Tommi Nissinen (Oulu, Finland/Kastellin Lukio) won his fifth straight match to improve to 23-8 this year. He beat Calvin Kemp 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3. This is the fourth time this year that Nissinen has put together a winning streak of at least four matches.

Smith picked up JMU's other singles victory, beating Moore 6-3, 7-6 (8) at No. 1. Smith finished the weekend's Round Robin 3-0 and has improved to 11-10 during spring play.

GSU received victories at Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6, all in straight sets, to complete a 3-0 showing in the tournament.

Madison returns to the courts on Wednesday as it hosts Radford at the Convocation Center Tennis Courts at 3 p.m.

GSU 4, JMU 3

Doubles
No. 1 - Smith/King (JMU) def. Spinks/Moore (GSU), 8-6
No. 2 - Voznenko/Maaranen (JMU) def. Mangin/Valente (GSU), 8-6
No. 3 - Kemp/Gutierrez (GSU) def. Vladimirsky/Hardy (JMU), 8-7(5)

Singles
No. 1 - Smith (JMU) def. Moore (GSU), 6-3, 7-6 (8)
No. 2 - Valente (GSU) def. Vladimirsky (JMU), 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 - Nissinen (JMU) def. Kemp (GSU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 - Guti