North Carolina State University Athletics
Sunday, January 27
Ann Arbor, Mich.
10 AM
NC State
4
vs
3
#12 Georgia
Photo by: Chris Baird
Wolfpack Upsets 12th-Ranked Georgia to Close ITA Kick-Off Weekend
1/27/2019 1:54:00 PM | Men's Tennis
NC State defeats Bulldogs for just second time in program history
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In its highest-ranked win under the leadership of second-year head coach Kyle Spencer, the NC State men's tennis team took down No. 12 Georgia in the consolation round of ITA Kick-Off Weekend, defeating the Bulldogs by a 4-3 score Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Center.
With the win, the Wolfpack improves to 3-1 on the season and picked up its best win over a ranked opponent since upsetting seventh-ranked Wake Forest in March 2016. It marks just the second time in eight meetings between the two teams and the first time since the 1977 season that NC State has defeated Georgia, an elite tennis program that owns a rich history of success.
Despite a late 3-2 lead by Georgia, the Wolfpack rallied to pick up closing wins on the last two singles courts to secure its third team victory of the season.
"I'm really proud of the guys today," said Spencer. "It was a titanic struggle out there with one of the nation's elite programs, but our guys battled all the way to the end. I thought both teams competed at a high level. Give a lot of credit to Georgia, as they pushed us all the way to the end."
The match came down to the wire and was decided by the final match. Wolfpack junior Alexis Galarneau found himself in a three-set battle with 15th-ranked Emil Reinberg, and Galarneau broke Reinberg's serve on deciding point to clinch the match with his 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win. It marked the highest-ranked player that Galarneau has defeated in his NC State career.
"Who would you rather have playing for the team match at 3-3 than Alexis Galarneau?," said Spencer. "The guy just loves the high-level battle. He's an amazing competitor.
NC State opened the outing by gutting out a competitive doubles point that also came down to the final court. Galarneau and Michael Ogden got off to a fast start with a break to go up 3-1 early and were the first to tally a doubles win on the day. They picked up their first ranked doubles win of the 2019 season as they cruised past Georgia's No. 51 Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski, 6-2.
On court two, Igor Saveljic and Ivan Saveljic traded multiple breaks with Walker Duncan and Philip Henning. The match extended into a tiebreaker, which the Georgia duo won by an 8-6 count to push the attention to court three.
The matchup between NC State's Georgiy Malyshev and Tadas Babelis and Georgia's Alex Diaz and Emil Reinberg was tight throughout the entirety of doubles competition. Malyshev and Babelis gained an early lead in the tiebreaker on the way to winning it 7-5 to claim the doubles point for the Wolfpack.
Georgia got on the board in singles play, tying the team score at one as Duncan defeated Wolfpack sophomore Robert Turzak 6-1, 6-1.
Shortly after, Igor picked up a win on court three as he cruised past Loeb, defeating the Bulldog junior 6-3, 6-4 for the victory.
"Igor was fantastic today, beating a very solid player in straight sets," said Spencer.
The Bulldogs jumped out to their first lead of the outing as Henning defeated NC State's Yannai Barkai 6-3, 6-4.
Wolfpack sophomore Tadas Babelis put up a solid fight against the nation's second-ranked player, but Zielinski ultimately picked up the 5-7, 7-3, 6-4 win to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the outing.
The Pack responded as Malyshev completed a three-set battle of his own on court six. He came back from a set down to beat Blake Croyder 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 to once again the score.
"Georgiy had a moment where it didn't look good, but he was able to hang in there and find a way to turn the match his way," said Spencer.
The match was then decided with Galarneau's win on court one.
UP NEXT:
NC State returns home for another doubleheader at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center on Feb. 2. The Pack will face North Florida at 11 a.m. and Winthrop at 5 p.m.
RESULTS:
NC State 4, #12 Georgia 3
Doubles results
Order of finish: (1, 2, 3)
1. Alexis Galarneau/Michael Ogden (NC State) def. #51 Robert Loeb/Jan Zielinski (Georgia) 6-2
2. Walker Duncan/Philip Henning (Georgia) def. Igor Saveljic/Ivan Saveljic (NC State) 7-6 (6)
3. Georgiy Malyshev/Tadas Babelis (NC State) def. Alex Diaz/Emil Reinberg 7-6 (5)
Singles Results
Order of finish: (5, 3, 4, 2, 6, 1)
1. Alexis Galarneau (NC State) def. #15 Emil Reinberg (Georgia) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. #2 Jan Zielinski (Georgia) def. Tadas Babelis (NC State) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
3. Igor Saveljic (NC State) def. Robert Loeb (Georgia) 6-3, 6-4
4. Philip Henning (Georgia) def. Yannai Barkai (Georgia) 6-3, 6-4
5. Walker Duncan (Georgia) def. Robert Turzak (NC State) 6-1, 6-1
6. Georgiy Malyshev (NC State) def. Blake Croyder (NC State) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
With the win, the Wolfpack improves to 3-1 on the season and picked up its best win over a ranked opponent since upsetting seventh-ranked Wake Forest in March 2016. It marks just the second time in eight meetings between the two teams and the first time since the 1977 season that NC State has defeated Georgia, an elite tennis program that owns a rich history of success.
Despite a late 3-2 lead by Georgia, the Wolfpack rallied to pick up closing wins on the last two singles courts to secure its third team victory of the season.
"I'm really proud of the guys today," said Spencer. "It was a titanic struggle out there with one of the nation's elite programs, but our guys battled all the way to the end. I thought both teams competed at a high level. Give a lot of credit to Georgia, as they pushed us all the way to the end."
The match came down to the wire and was decided by the final match. Wolfpack junior Alexis Galarneau found himself in a three-set battle with 15th-ranked Emil Reinberg, and Galarneau broke Reinberg's serve on deciding point to clinch the match with his 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win. It marked the highest-ranked player that Galarneau has defeated in his NC State career.
"Who would you rather have playing for the team match at 3-3 than Alexis Galarneau?," said Spencer. "The guy just loves the high-level battle. He's an amazing competitor.
Pack 4, Georgia 3@tennisgalarneau comes up BIG on deciding point and takes down No. 15 Emil Reinberg (UGA) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. #PackRisin pic.twitter.com/Q1sWNisMCP
— NC State Men's Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) January 27, 2019
NC State opened the outing by gutting out a competitive doubles point that also came down to the final court. Galarneau and Michael Ogden got off to a fast start with a break to go up 3-1 early and were the first to tally a doubles win on the day. They picked up their first ranked doubles win of the 2019 season as they cruised past Georgia's No. 51 Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski, 6-2.
On court two, Igor Saveljic and Ivan Saveljic traded multiple breaks with Walker Duncan and Philip Henning. The match extended into a tiebreaker, which the Georgia duo won by an 8-6 count to push the attention to court three.
The matchup between NC State's Georgiy Malyshev and Tadas Babelis and Georgia's Alex Diaz and Emil Reinberg was tight throughout the entirety of doubles competition. Malyshev and Babelis gained an early lead in the tiebreaker on the way to winning it 7-5 to claim the doubles point for the Wolfpack.
Pack 1, Georgia 0
— NC State Men's Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) January 27, 2019
Tadas Babelis and Georgiy Malyshev give us the advantage after doubles. They defeat Diaz/Reinberg 7-6 (5) to clinch the opening point!#PackRisin pic.twitter.com/hz6xjBaeq6
Georgia got on the board in singles play, tying the team score at one as Duncan defeated Wolfpack sophomore Robert Turzak 6-1, 6-1.
Shortly after, Igor picked up a win on court three as he cruised past Loeb, defeating the Bulldog junior 6-3, 6-4 for the victory.
"Igor was fantastic today, beating a very solid player in straight sets," said Spencer.
Pack 2, Georgia 1@SaveljicIgor holds serve as he defeats Robert Loeb (UGA) in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. #PackRisin pic.twitter.com/15S7p71ev3
— NC State Men's Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) January 27, 2019
The Bulldogs jumped out to their first lead of the outing as Henning defeated NC State's Yannai Barkai 6-3, 6-4.
Wolfpack sophomore Tadas Babelis put up a solid fight against the nation's second-ranked player, but Zielinski ultimately picked up the 5-7, 7-3, 6-4 win to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the outing.
The Pack responded as Malyshev completed a three-set battle of his own on court six. He came back from a set down to beat Blake Croyder 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 to once again the score.
"Georgiy had a moment where it didn't look good, but he was able to hang in there and find a way to turn the match his way," said Spencer.
Pack 3, Georgia 3
— NC State Men's Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) January 27, 2019
Georgiy Malyshev comes back from a set down to gut out a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 win over Blake Croyder (UGA)!#PackRisin pic.twitter.com/hEMQZlc6uq
The match was then decided with Galarneau's win on court one.
UP NEXT:
NC State returns home for another doubleheader at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center on Feb. 2. The Pack will face North Florida at 11 a.m. and Winthrop at 5 p.m.
RESULTS:
NC State 4, #12 Georgia 3
Doubles results
Order of finish: (1, 2, 3)
1. Alexis Galarneau/Michael Ogden (NC State) def. #51 Robert Loeb/Jan Zielinski (Georgia) 6-2
2. Walker Duncan/Philip Henning (Georgia) def. Igor Saveljic/Ivan Saveljic (NC State) 7-6 (6)
3. Georgiy Malyshev/Tadas Babelis (NC State) def. Alex Diaz/Emil Reinberg 7-6 (5)
Singles Results
Order of finish: (5, 3, 4, 2, 6, 1)
1. Alexis Galarneau (NC State) def. #15 Emil Reinberg (Georgia) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
2. #2 Jan Zielinski (Georgia) def. Tadas Babelis (NC State) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
3. Igor Saveljic (NC State) def. Robert Loeb (Georgia) 6-3, 6-4
4. Philip Henning (Georgia) def. Yannai Barkai (Georgia) 6-3, 6-4
5. Walker Duncan (Georgia) def. Robert Turzak (NC State) 6-1, 6-1
6. Georgiy Malyshev (NC State) def. Blake Croyder (NC State) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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