VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind a strong contingent of fans, the No. 5 Valdosta State men's tennis team downed visiting North Georgia 6-1 Friday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Courts.  The Blazers improved to 2-0 on the year, while UNG fell to 2-1.
 
The Blazers won the doubles point with tie-breaker victories at Nos. 2 and 3, as junior Christian Felline and freshman Lamar Bartley downed Cole Brainard and Ryan Gaskin, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 2, while graduate student Swann Flohr and sophomore Edward Etty defeated Connor Evenson/Sebastian Murillo 7-6 (7-4) at No. 3.  VSU tandem of sophomores Luca Mack and Rodrigo Carvalho, who were ranked No. 2 nationally, were upset by Joaquin Benoit and Zach Waldow, 6-1 at the top spot. 
 
Heading into singles play, sophomore Christian Wedel won at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 7-5 over Murillo for a 2-0 lead and Bartley made the score 3-0 in favor of the red and black with a win at No. 2, defeating Gaskin 6-3, 6-1.  Mack, ranked No. 12 in singles, upset No. 2-ranked Benoit at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-4, for a 4-0 lead to clinch the match.  Sophomore Cameron Henricy Trigolos won at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-3, over Guillio Sassi for a 5-0 lead, while Carvalho, ranked No. 29 nationally, needed three sets at No. 3 for a 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 10-7 victory.  UNG's lone win came at No. 5 singles to finish the match as he defeated Felline 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. 
 
The Blazers return to action on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at No. 15 Embry-Riddle.