VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's tennis team started the Gulf South Conference portion of their 2016 schedule on a high note with 5-0 victories over both Lee and Shorter at the VSU Tennis Courts on Saturday in Valdosta, Ga.
 
A variation in the Blazers' doubles lineup didn't slow down the red and black, as Leo Blay and Xavier Pineda teamed up at No. 1 for an 8-1 victory over Eirik Groner to open up the morning match against the Flames of Lee University. Gereon Heitmann and Andrew Harvin added to the lead with an 8-5 win over Rhys Milne and Boyd Blackburn at No. 2, before Fernando Rivas and Jordi Mas retained momentum at No. 3 with an 8-0 victory over Karl Hulten and Charles Jabaley.
 
In singles play, Mas and Pineda put the finishing touches on the contest with convincing 6-1, 6-4 and 6-1, 6-1 wins over Blackburn and Hulten at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
 
The second match of the day, against Shorter in the afternoon, was more of the same for Valdosta State, as Blay and Pineda blasted Louis Tourtois and Jimmy Kerjouan at No. 1 with an 8-1 win. The Blazers took a 3-0 lead after doubles, thanks to Rivas and Mas at No. 2 with an 8-1 win over Talha Zubair, followed by Harvin and Heitmann at No. 3 with a dominant 8-0 triumph over Arther Amat and Patrick Sanders at No. 3.
 
Mas and Pineda made quick work of the Hawks again in singles, defeating Amut and Sanders at No. 4 and No. 5 with 6-1, 6-1 wins.
 
No. 9 Valdosta State improved to 6-2 overall and opened up a perfect 2-0 start in GSC play with the doubleheader sweep. The Blazers remain at No. 5 in the South Regional standings.
 
Next up for Valdosta State, it's a midweek showdown with Columbus State in Columbus, Ga. on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Stay tuned to www.vstateblazers.com for scores and results, or follow us on Twitter (@BlazerAthletics) for up to the minute results.