Men's Tennis Completes Day One at Winthrop Fall Invitational

Cameron Smith

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Freshman Gaston Murray (Lake Worth, Fla. / Park Vista) picked up a Spartan victory with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) against Gardner-Webb's Nikita Zverkov Friday at the Winthrop Fall Invitational. 

"I am disappointed in how the guys performed today," said assistant coach Brett Bernstein. "We lacked the heart and mental toughness it takes to win at this level. I know that we are better than what we showed on the court today. Hopefully tomorrow we will have some better results." 

Sophomore Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C. / Ragsdale) fought in a second-set tiebreaker, but fell 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to Ernest Alberch from Gardner-Webb. 

Junior Ahmet Sarioglu (Ankara, Turkey / METU Development Foundation) lost in a tough three set match against Presbyterian College's Daniel Bruce, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. 

In doubles play, Smith and Murray lost to O'Connell and Brigham from Presbyterian College 8-4, while Sarioglu and freshman Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla. / Lakeland) fell 8-5 to Georgia State's Cook and Santana. 

Freshmen James Flynn (Plantation, Fla. / American Heritage) and William Albright (Greensboro, N.C. / Grimsley) also lost 8-4 to Campbell's Kralik and Kinney. 

Play at the Winthrop Fall Invitational will continue Saturday, Nov. 3, beginning at 9 a.m.

2012 Winthrop Fall Invitational (Day One) 

Division 1 Singles

Matt Waissen (Asheville) defeated Daniel Mack (UNCG), 7-5, 6-4

Gaston Murray (UNCG) defeated Nikita Zverkov (Gardner-Webb), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)

Division 2 Singles

Ernest Alberch (Gardner-Webb) defeated Cameron Smith (UNCG), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

Daniel Bruce (Presbyterian College) defeated Ahmet Sarioglu (UNCG), 1-6, 6-4, 6-2

Division 3 Singles

Michael Chen (Winthrop) defeated James Flynn (UNCG), 6-1, 6-0

Garrison Kinney (Campbell) defeated William Albright (UNCG), 6-2, 6-1

Division 1 Doubles

O'Connell/Brigham (Presbyterian College) defeated Smith/Murray (UNCG), 8-4

Division 2 Doubles

Cook/Santana (Georgia State) defeated Sariouglu/Mack (UNCG), 8-5

Division 3 Doubles

Kralik/Kinney (Campbell) defeated Flynn/Albright (UNCG), 8-4

- UNCG -