CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 23 Queens University of Charlotte men's tennis team kicked off its 2020 regular season with a thrilling 5-2 win over No. 18 University of North Georgia on Sunday afternoon at the Howard Levine Tennis Center.
 
"I'm really proud of our effort today," said Head Tennis Coach Billy Boykin. "This was a great team win. We faced a lot of adversity throughout the match, but really hung in there and competed well.
 
Despite a 6-1 win by the doubles tandem of Agustin Aran Martin and Edoardo Bottino, the Royals lost the doubles points as North Georgie won in both the first and third positions.
 
The Royals rebounded to win five of the six singles contests, beginning with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 by Bottino over UNG's regionally-ranked Paul Pahun. Senior Sebastian Meum followed with a 7-5, 6-1 win in the fourth position and sophomore Jan Malmon tallied his first career win with a 6-2, 7-5 decision at No. 4.
 
Freshman Edoardo Cecere clinched the match victory with a6-2, 3-6, 6-3 triumph at No. 5 before the Nighthawks collected their lone singles win in a three-set marathon in the third position. Aran Martin ended the evening with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 over regionally-ranked Ryan Gaskin.
 
"We lost the doubles point,but dialed in with our focus and won five first sets in singles play," commented Boykin. "That gave us a lot of momentum, which helped us win the match."
 
"We had some great individual efforts today, but I have to take my hat off to our two freshmen," Boykin continued. "Edoardo Bottino played lights out tennis today in both singles and doubles and Edoardo Cecere fought through a lot of physical adversity to clinch the match."
 
The Royals return to the court next Sunday, February 16, when they host regional power Georgia College at 11 a.m. in Charlotte.
 
#23 Queens University of Charlotte 5, #18 University of North Georgia 2
 
Singles competition
1. Agustin Aran Martin (QUEENSM) def. Ryan Gaskin (UNGM) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
2. Edoardo Bottino (QUEENSM) def. Paul Pahun (UNGM) 6-0, 6-2
3. Daniel Ostap (UNGM) def. Paolo Bompieri (QUEENSM) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Jan Malmon (QUEENSM) def. Mark Laishley (UNGM) 6-2, 7-5
5. Edoardo Cecere (QUEENSM) def. Zack Waldow (UNGM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
6. Sebastian Meum (QUEENSM) def. Tim Kiehl (UNGM) 7-5, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Kevin Candido/Ryan Gaskin (UNGM) def. Joel Dunlap/Sebastian Meum (QUEENSM) 6-2
2. Agustin Aran Martin/Edoardo Bottino (QUEENSM) def. Daniel Ostap/Mark Laishley (UNGM) 6-1
3. Zack Waldow/Paul Pahun (UNGM) def. Paolo Bompieri/Edoardo Cecere (QUEENSM) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
University of North Georgia 1-1; National ranking #18; Regional ranking #5
Queens University of Charlotte 1-0; National ranking #23; Regional ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,4,5,3,1)