Top-Ranked Pirates Collect Eighth Straight PBC Tournament Title
GREENWOOD, S.C. - The top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University men's tennis team blanked No. 8 Columbus State, 5-0, to notch the Pirates' eighth straight Peach Belt Conference tournament title on Sunday at the Joe Cabri Tennis Center in Greenwood, S.C.
The Pirates (24-0) have won every league tournament men's tennis title since 2005 after blanking the Cougars (22-3) on Sunday, halting Columbus State's six-game win streak.
Armstrong collected three quick doubles wins to take a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. PBC Doubles MVPs Georgi Rumenov and Mikk Irdoja defeated Gordan Divljak and Quentin Rayniere, 8-2, at No. 1 doubles, while No. 16-ranked Sven Lalic and Pedro Scocugliaavenged an earlier season loss to No. 6-ranked Martin Shishkov and Olivier Simonet with an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles. Eudaldo Bonet and Matus Mydla then completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 win over Adi Malicbegovic and Michael Trebuhov at No. 3 doubles.
The Pirates then won at the two top singles spots to clinch the match. PBC Singles MVP Rumenov beat No. 23-ranked Simonet, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 1 singles, while No. 3-ranked Bonet beat No. 48-ranked Divljak, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 2 singles.
Armstrong claims the league's automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA Championships and will host one of two NCAA Southeast Regionals, to be held on April 30-May 1. NCAA Championships bids will be announced on Tuesday, April 24th.
