Bulldogs eliminate Razorbacks 4-0

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Georgia men's tennis team used an efficient outing up and down the lineup to dispatch of Arkansas, 4-0, Thursday evening in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

For Bulldog head coach Manuel Diaz, it marked his 699th career win. Diaz, who is in his 31st season as head man at Georgia, followed legendary coach Dan Magill who tallied a SEC record 706 career victories.

No. 17-ranked Georgia has now won six of its last seven matches this season. The Bulldogs advance to face No. 4 seed Tennessee at 4 p.m. ET Friday at the Ring Tennis Complex.

"It was just a great start for us," Diaz said. "We played with phenomenal energy all night. What we did in doubles was special. Arkansas played great at No. 1, but we came back and 2 and 3 and just looked terrific. Emil, Trent and Philip were just lights out and set the tone for us. I am very proud of all of our guys tonight."

Playing together for just the second time this season, the Georgia doubles tandem of Alex Diaz and Philip Henning were in an early hole, down a break 2-0. It did not take long for the young duo to bounce back, winning six of the next seven games in a 6-3 triumph.

Georgia's team of Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski fell for just the third time in the last 10 matches, taking a 6-4 loss to Arkansas' No. 1 pair of Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo.

That put the doubles point in the hands of seniors Walker Duncan and Emil Reinberg at Court 2. The veteran tandem delivered a 6-4 victory to send the Bulldogs to the singles courts with the 1-0 advantage.

Georgia made quick work of the Razorbacks, winning five of the six first sets in singles to take the early momentum.

Henning - who won SEC Freshman of the Week coming into the tournament - was dominant in a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Maxim Verbroven. Reinberg quickly followed with a 6-1, 6-1 victory, before Bryde ousted Enrique Paya 6-3, 6-2 to clinch the match.