ATHENS, Ga. – Virginia Tech sophomore Carlo Donato led the Virginia Tech men's tennis team, advancing to the round of 16 on the opening day of the 51st Annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships in Athens, Georgia.
Donato opened the day over Stetson's Antoine Sanchez winning the first set 6-3 before narrowly falling in the second 7-6. Donato came back strong in the third set to win it with a 6-0 shutout.
In his second match of the day, Donato rolled past UCF's Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi with straight set scores of 6-4, 6-4. He advances to the Division I flight round of 16.
In the Division II singles Ryan Kros claimed an opening round win. He dropped the first set 6-4 to Georgia Gwinnett's Sergio Valinotti, but rallied to take the next two in decisive fashion with scores of 6-1, 6-2. Kros fell in the second round to Tennessee Tech's Gonzalo Garcia 7-6(7), 6-4.
Chase Bernstine also opened the day with a win, rallying to defeat ETSU's Taisei Miyamoto. After giving up the opening set 6-3, Bernstine took the next two 6-2, 6-4. The Tech player fell in the second round to UNCG's Nico Grewe 6-3, 6-3.
The Hokies will be back on the court Saturday with the next round of singles as well as two rounds of doubles.
Division I Singles
Carlo Donato (VT) def. Antoine Sanchez (Stetson) 6-3, 6-7, 6-0
Carlo Donato (VT) def. Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (UCF) 6-4, 6-4
Gabriel DeCamps (UCF) def. Jason Kros (VT) 6-3, 6-2
Division II Singles
Ryan Kros (VT) def. Sergio Valinotti (Ga. Gwinnett) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Gonzalo Garcia (Tenn. Tech) def. Ryan Kros (VT) 7-6(7), 6-4
Chase Bernstine (VT) def. Taisei Miyamoto (ETSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Nico Grewe (UNCG) def. Chase Bernstine (VT) 6-3, 6-3
Oscar Mesquida (Arkansas) def. Evan Fragistas (VT) 6-3, 6-4