Men's Tennis MEAC Media Relations

RATTLER NETTERS HOLD OFF GEORGIA SOUTHERN, 4-3

Veterans Simbarashe Happy and Clifford Malivert won clutch victories in singles Sunday, as the Florida A&M Men’s Tennis team won their home opener, 4-3 over Georgia Southern in chilly conditions on the FAMU Tennis Courts.

Florida A&M (1-0), won the doubles point, as Happy and Artiom Podgainii teamed to win at #2 doubles, 8-4 over Neil Shine and Matthew Sands, coupled with an 8-6 win by Paul Paige and Malivert over Philip Prins and Gregory Bekkers at the #3 doubles.

In singles, Michael Moore defeated GSU’s Mark Paetz at #4 singles, 6-1, 6-3, but it was Malivert’s 6-3, 6-1 win at #2 over Borja Malet, that set the stage for Happy’s dramatics at the #3 singles.

Happy outlasted Bekkers, 7-6 (8-6 in tie break) and 6-2 to clinch the match and FAMU’s first win of the 2008 spring schedule.

In other singles action, Podgainii dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to GSU’s Emmanuel Nkouelene at the #1 singles; GSU’s Philip Prins defeated FAMU’s Maurice Wamukowa, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) at #5 singles, while Matthew Sands of GSU ousted Paul Paige of FAMU, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

WHAT’S NEXT: Florida A&M treks across town to take on Florida State University next Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

FAMU 4, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 3 ? Sunday, January 20, 2008 ? Tallahassee, FL
SINGLES
#1 ? Emmanuel Nkouelene (GS) def. Artiom Podgainii (FAM), 6-3, 6-3.
#2 ? Clifford Malivert (FAM) def. Borja Malet (GS), 6-3, 6-1.
#3 ? Simbarashe Happy (FAM) def. Gregory Bekkers (GS), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.
#4 ? Michael Moore (FAM) def. Mark Paetz (GS), 6-1, 6-3.
#5 ? Philip Prins (GS) def. Maurice Wamukowa (FAM), 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).
#6 ? Matthew Sands (GS) def. Paul Paige (FAM), 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

DOUBLES
#1 ? Nkouelene/Malet (GS) def. Wamukowa/Moore (FAM), 8-4.
#2 ? Happy/Podgainii (FAM) def. Sands/Neil Shine (GS), 8-4.
#3 ? Paige/Malivert (FAM) def. Prins/Bekkers (GS), 8-6.