2013-14 PBC Yearbook July 2014 | Page 46

Men’s Tennis CONTRACTORS BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE OF GEORGIA COLLEGE Columbus State Named Champions of Rain-Shortened Armstrong, Columbus State and Lander Claim Men’s PBC Men’s Tennis Tournament Tennis Regular-Season Title The much-anticipated matchup of top-seeded Columbus State and third-seeded Armstrong fell victim to persistent rains on Saturday, the CSU Cougars were awarded the 2014 PBC men’s tennis tournament championship in Florence, S.C. Rains began late in the day Friday and continued overnight into Saturday, rendering the courts at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center unplayable. Columbus State wins their first-ever PBC Tournament title. PBC rules award the highest-remaining seed the championship should the final rounds be rained out. Both teams are assured bids for the upcoming NCAA Tournament and both will most likely serve as regional hosts. Armstrong’s Jann Kononov was named the men’s tournament MVP as the singles player with the best record who plays in the highest slot. Playing at #2 singles, Kononov beat Flagler’s Inigo Landaluce 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and Lander’s Marc Hofer 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals. In doubles, the co-MVP’s were Columbus State’s Marco Almorin and Adi Malicbegovic along with Armstrong’s Jaan Kononov and Pedro Scocuglia. 44 2013-14 2013-14 For the first time in the history of the Peach Belt, three men’s tennis teams will share the league’s regular-season championship. Armstrong, Columbus State and Lander all finished the regular season with a 9-1 league mark and are PBC co-Champions of the 2014 season. The No. 5-ranked Armstrong team earned a share of its fifth straight Peach Belt Conference regular season title with a 9-0 win over No. 15 USC Aiken on Sunday afternoon at Bacon Park. The Pirates (14-6, 9-1 PBC) also won their 10th overall league regular season title with the victory over the Pacers, who wrap up the regular season with a 10-9 overall mark and a 2-8 mark in the Peach Belt. Armstrong won a share of the 2000 title, shared titles in 2005 and 2006 and won outright titles in 2007-08 and 2010-13. Armstrong swept all three doubles matches to take a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. Jaan Kononov and Pedro Scocuglia defeated Alejandro Andino and Patrick Stiebinger, 8-3, at No. 1 doubles, while Ignacio Hernandez and Damian Okrutny beat Ettore Damini and Lucas Gobbi, 8-2, at No. 2 doubles. Luca Cerin and Pablo Gor finished off the doubles 45