No. 1 Pirates Capture Fifth Straight PBC Tournament Title

NORCROSS, Ga. - After a rain delay and a venue change, the top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's tennis team successfully defended its Peach Belt Conference tournament title with a 5-1 win over No. 9-ranked USC Aiken on Sunday afternoon at the indoor Racquet Club of the South facility in Norcross.

The Pirates (24-1) won their fifth straight league tournament title by taking two of three doubles matches, then winning three straight-set singles matches against the Pacers (18-4), who were making their first-ever appearance in the PBC Tournament championship match.

Fifth-ranked Paul Bishop and Mikk Irdoja defeated ninth-ranked Dagoberto Darezzo and Edward Horne, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles, while No. 10-ranked Rafael Array and Tim Johannsen beat No. 22-ranked Bruno Seves and Filipe Garcia, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles. USC Aiken picked up its doubles point with a 9-8 (7-5) win by Christopher Kaetz and Gregory Andrade over Eudaldo Bonet and Akos Torok.

Top-ranked Bonet, the PBC's Player and Freshman of the Year, collected a 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 6-ranked Seves at No. 1 singles for the Pirates. No. 23-ranked Bishop notched a 6-3, 6-0 win over No. 21-ranked Darezzo at No. 2 singles, then No. 25-ranked Irdoja notched a 6-0, 6-3 win over Horne at No. 3 singles.

Bonet was named the 2009 PBC Tournament singles MVP, while Bishop and Irdoja were named the tournament doubles MVPs.

AASU will now advance to the NCAA Southeast Regional, which will take place on May 7-8, and begin its NCAA DII National Title defense.