Gardner-Webb Represented by Evgeny Slesarev at 2009 Southern Intercollegiate Championships
September 22, 2009 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, G.A.- The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team was represented in the 2009 Southern Intercollegiate Championships this past weekend by senior Evgeny Slesarev, who participated in two matches before being eliminated from the tournament.
The tournament, hosted by the University of Georgia, has many participants from several different schools located throughout the southeastern region of the country, and is considered to be one of the top events in the country.
The tournament started Friday morning for Slesarev as he took on Ernesto Ramos from Coastal Carolina. Slesarev was able to defeat Ramos in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6. The win allowed Slesarev to advance to the round of 64 to face the tournament's number one seed, John-Patrick Smith of Tennessee.
Smith, ranked number two nationally by the ITA in singles, was too much for Slesarev as he defeated the senior from Russia, 6-1,6-0.
Gardner-Webb men's tennis head coach Mike Griffith was pleased with the effort that Slesarev showed this past weekend. "Even though the event was shortened due to heavy rains, Evgeny was in the top draw and went 1-1. He was able to beat one of Coastal Carolina's top players and a very good competitor in Ramos, and then faced he tournament's No. 1 seed and former NCAA finalist in Smith. Even though he lost, I feel that this experience will make him better in the upcoming tournaments and the season. This fall his record is currently 4-2, and our goal is to get him ready for the ITA Regionals next month at UNC, which are the qualifiers for the National Indoor Tournament."
The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team will return to action on October 2nd and 3rd as they host the GWU Fall Invitational in Boiling Springs, N.C.
