VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Valdosta State men's tennis team opened the 2023 spring season with a 7-0 victory over Georgia College Tuesday afternoon at the VSU Tennis Courts.
 
In doubles, the Blazers got off to a fast start with victories at all three spots as senior Christian Felline and sophomore Lamar Bartley set the tone with a 6-2 victory at No. 2, while juniors Luca Mack and Rodrigo Carvalho won at the top spot, 6-3, over Gabe Cizek and Luka Sauer Jimenez.  At No. 3, juniors Christian Wedel and Blazer newcomer Pedro Cordeiro won 6-3 over Rodrigo Perez Crespo for the early lead.
 
Mack, ranked No. 2 nationally in singles, put VSU up 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Cizek at the top spot.  The Blazers won each of the first sets in all six singles matches to continue the momentum from the doubles victory.  Wedel won 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 4 spot over Marcello Rocha for a 3-0 lead.  Cordeiro clinched the match at No. 6 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Masumi Komada, while Felline won at No. 5, 6-2, 6-2 and Bartley won at No. 3, 7-5, 6-4 for a 6-0 lead.  
 
Going for the sweep, Carvalho needed three sets at No. 2 singles as he won the first set 6-3 and had match point at 5-4 in the second set, but was unable to hang on against Karol Malirz, losing 7-5.  In the super tiebreaker third set, Malirz raced out to a 6-0 lead, but Carvalho regained his composure and won 10-8 for the 7-0 team victory.
 
The Blazers don't play again until Mar. 4 at home versus Lynn at 10 a.m. at the VSU Tennis Courts.