Thursday, March 10, 2005

                JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Mar. 6, 2005) - The East Tennessee State University men's tennis extended their winning streak to five matches with a sweep of Florida A&M at home in a 7-0 final. With the win, the Bucs are now 7-3 overall, 2-0 in the SoCon, while FAMU drops to 5-5.

            ETSU won the doubles point with wins from the duo of Oscar Posada (Valencia, Venezuela) and Fernando Fiuri (Villa Maria, Argentina) at No. 1 over Zurab Zhvania and Pfungwa Mahefeu in a 8-1 decision and Moisés Serrano (Bucaramanga, Colombia) and Sebastian Serrano (Bucaramanga, Colombia) at No. 3 over Frank Green and Clifford Malivert, 8-6. At No. 2 ETSU's Felix Insaurralde (Asunción, Paraguay) and Lisandro Picardo (Mar del Plata, Argentina) fell in a close match to Jarrel Willias and Vassil Fahvorien 9-8 (8-6).

            In singles action, ETSU blanked the FAMU rattlers by collecting all six points. Senior Moisés Serrano clinched the match with a win at No. 4 over Fahvorien 6-3, 6-4.

            "Today was a win for us, but we could have played better, " stated head coach Yaser Zaatini. "Tohe top part of the line up played well, but it was a new experience for the freshmen. The dome plays faster, and it's hard to adjust. The guys were able to get good strokes in, but need to work to improve and that will come over time."

            The Bucs continue their home stretch this Saturday, March 12 as they take on the University of Texas San Antonio at 10:00 a.m.

ETSU 7, Florida A&M 0

Doubles

1.  Posada/Fiuri (ETSU) d. Mahefeu/Zhvania (FAMU) 8-1

2.  Williams/Fahvorien (FAMU) d. Insaurralde/Picardo (ETSU) 9-8 (8-6)

3.  M. Serrano/S.Serrano (ETSU) d. Green/Malivert (FAMU) 8-6

Singles

1.  Oscar Posada (ETSU) d. Pfungwa Mahefeu (FAMU) 6-2, 6-2

2.  Fernando Fiuri (ETSU) d. Zurab Zhvania (FAMU) 6-4, 6-3

3.  Felix Insaurralde (ETSU) d. Frank Green (FAMU) 6-3, 6-3

4.  Moisés Serrano (ETSU) d. Vassil Fahvorien (FAMU) 6-3, 6-4

5.  Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) d. Clifford Malivert (FAMU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3