2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GRIZZ
LY DIG
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YOU R EXCL HOME F O U GRIZ SIVE BE R LIVE G AME H ZLY A S, THLE IND-THE - S C E C OA C H E TICS NES S ! COVE ’ SHOW S AN R AG E D CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA O 2 F NATIONAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GRIZZLY ATHLETICS
Quick Facts................................................2 2017 Schedule...........................................3
GEORGIA GWINNETT
Georgia Gwinnett College.........................4 Gwinnett County......................................10 Atlanta.....................................................12 Grizzly Athletics......................................14 Dr. Darin S. Wilson, Director of Athletics........16 Athletics Administration.........................17 Grizzly Athletics Complex.......................18 GGC Tennis Facility.................................20 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Coaching Staff.........................................24 Roster.......................................................29 Player Profiles.........................................30 National Rankings...................................40 2016 Dual Match Statistics....................44
GRIZZLY HISTORY
National Titles.........................................48 Conference Titles....................................60 All-Time Awards......................................61 All-Time Roster.......................................63 Program Records....................................64 Year-by-Year Results..............................68 All-Time Series........................................69
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QUICK FACTS
COLLEGE INFORMATION
School Name................ Georgia Gwinnett College Location.................................... Lawrenceville, Ga. Founded.......................................................... 2005 Enrollment................................................... 12,000 Nickname.................................................. Grizzlies Colors.............................................Green and Gray Affiliation........................................................ NAIA Conference...... Association of Independent Institutions President............ Dr. Stanley “Stas” C. Preczewski Director of Athletics.................Dr. Darin S. Wilson
GRIZZLY MEN’S TENNIS
First Season.............................................. 2012-13 Overall Record...................74-3 (.961)/4 Seasons 2016 Record....................................................26-0 National Championships............... 3 (‘14, ‘15, ‘16) A.I.I. Championships............................. 2 (‘14, ‘16) Twitter..............................................@GGC_Tennis
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COACHING STAFF
Head Coach.................................... Chase Hodges Record at GGC.............74-3 (.961)/4 Seasons Career Record....... 272-63 (.812)/15 Seasons Alma Mater..................... UNC Wilmington, ‘98 Assistant Coach................... Courtney Rutherford
SPORTS INFORMATION
Sports Information Director........... Jason Hendrix Email................................. jhendrix4@ggc.edu Office Phone.............................. 678.407.5039 Cell Phone................................. 678.371.9528 Website................................. GrizzlyAthletics.com Facebook.......................................... GGCAthletics Twitter............................................ @GGCAthletics Instagram...................................... @GGCAthletics
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent
Location
Time
Jan. 28 Kennesaw State (Ga.)
GGC Tennis Facility
1 p.m.
Feb. 1
USC Aiken (S.C)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
Feb. 4
The Citadel (S.C.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
Feb. 10 Lander (S.C.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
Feb. 11 West Alabama
GGC Tennis Facility
9:30 a.m.
Feb. 11 Tusculum (Tenn.)
GGC Tennis Facility
4 p.m.
Feb. 17 Cumberland (Tenn.)*
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
Feb. 18 Keiser (Fla.)*
GGC Tennis Facility
11 a.m.
Feb. 19 Xavier (La.)*
GGC Tennis Facility
10 a.m.
Feb. 19
Emory (Ga.)
Atlanta, Ga. GGC Tennis Facility
9:30 a.m.
March 6 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
March 7 Hawaii Pacific
GGC Tennis Facility
1 p.m.
March 9 Tennessee Tech
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
March 10 William Woods (Mo.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
March 12 Campbellsville (Ky.)
GGC Tennis Facility
1 p.m.
March 13 Cumberlands (Ky.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
March 27 Northwestern Ohio
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
April 13 Emory (Ga.)
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
April 14-16 GGC Invitational
GGC Tennis Facility
TBA
April 20 Tennessee Wesleyan
GGC Tennis Facility
2 p.m.
TBA
May 16-20 NAIA National Championship Mobile, Ala.
SCHEDULE
TBA
March 5 West Florida
May 5-7 Southeast Regional Tournament
2017
TBA TBA
*Matches are a part of the 2017 Grizzly Invitational 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GEORGIA GWINN New
COLLEGE
Higher education is different at Georgia Gwinnett College, built from the ground up for student success. From the design of its facilities to its student mentorship, everything about GGC is designed to ensure that you get the most from your college experience. GGC’s innovative approach works, and word has gotten around. The campus now bustles with nearly 13,000 students from across Georgia and around the world. The “real world” is looking for well-rounded graduates who can succeed in today’s challenging workplace. That’s why at GGC, you’ll be immersed in an active learning environment designed to give you a global perspective and make you more marketable. We connect you to a world beyond your major and prepare you for a successful career after graduation. The moment you arrive, you will meet faculty members who will mentor you throughout your journey. They will teach you the complexities of neuroscience, and help you land an internship. Or tag team with you on a research project. Mentor, inspire, cheerlead, advise -- GGC professors take teaching to a whole new level. GGC isn’t your typical college, and it shows in everything we do.
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
ET T COLLEGE New
ATTITUDE
DEGREES AND PROGRAMS MAJORS
Biology • Business Administration • Chemistry Criminal Justice/Criminology • Early Childhood Education English • Environmental Science • Exercise Science History • Information Technology • Mathematics Nursing • Political Science • Psychology • Special Education
MINORS
Business Administration • Criminal Justice English • Film • Geography • History • Leadership Information Technology • Political Science • Sociology
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Latin American Studies
CERTIFICATIONS Global Studies
ACADEMIC INTERESTS
Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant • Pre-Dental Hygene Pre-Dentistry • Pre-Medical Technology Pre-Medicine • Pre-Optometry Pre-Pharmacy • Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Physician’s Assistant • Pre-Radiologic Science Pre-Respiratory 2014, 2015, 2016 Therapy • Pre-Veterinary Medicine THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GEORGIA GWINN The Future of
EDUCATION
All classes at Georgia Gwinnett are taught by highquality faculty who are here only because they love to teach. Since our classes are small, they give personal attention that other institutions cannot deliver. If you need help with an assignment or a course, they spend extra time with you, perhaps even over lunch. Our professors do not have office hours. They are available to you in person or by e-mail, phone, and text for questions. And they do not just teach, they mentor. You will be assigned a specific faculty mentor, but all faculty fill this role. Whether you need advice about life, careers, internships, or competing for a special academic program, they are there to inspire and encourage you. They will even recommend you for conferences, research projects and other activities that will help prepare you for your future. They will welcome you into the college community during your “March Through the Arch� ceremony, and they will personally congratulate you when you graduate. Think of them as your own personal coaching staff.
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
ET T COLLEGE
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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RESIDENCE LIFE Suite-Style
LIVING
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Forget community bathrooms and bunk beds; GGC Residence Life Student Housing is decked out to the max. It is nothing like your parents’ dormitories (more like chic apartments). We call it suite-style living, and it is competitively priced and costs less than you might think. Our apartment-style suites will have you feeling right at home, or even better. Your own private and spacious bedroom awaits you in a two-, three-, four-, six-, eight- or 12-bedroom suite, with a bathroom for every two students in the suite. Each bedroom comes carpeted and fully-furnished with a comfy twin bed, night stand, dresser and desk, while living spaces feature plenty of plush seating for you to gather with friends and study, chat or watch the 46-inch flatscreen television that comes standard in every suite. Well-equipped kitchenettes, study rooms, on-site laundry facilities that email or text you when your laundry is done and wireless internet are all part of our modern take on campus living.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GWINNETT COUNTY Atlanta’s
PLAYGROUND
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Gwinnett County is the second-most populous county in the state of Georgia and boasts a population in excess of 800,000 people and includes the cities of Auburn, Berkeley Lake, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lilburn, Loganville, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Snellville, Sugar Hill, and Suwanee. Lawrenceville, which is home to Georgia Gwinnett College, is the county seat. The county contains some of the best entertainment options in the Atlanta metro area, including the Aurora Theatre, which boasts of some of the top stage shows, and the Infinite Energy Arena, which has drawn in such acts as Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. For the sports fans, in addition to being close to major sports teams in Atlanta, Lawrenceville also has minor league teams in the Gwinnett Braves and Atlanta Gladiators and is the home base for the Harlem Globetrotters. For shoppers, Buford’s Mall of Georgia is the largest in the state, and Lawrenceville’s Sugarloaf Mills offers unique dining and entertainment options like Atlanta’s largest Dave & Buster’s and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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ATLANTA The
STATE CAPITAL
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Lawrenceville is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which ranks as the ninth-largest in the United States. In addition to being one of the most accessible cities to visit in the country, it also serves as the cultural and entertainment hub of the Southeast. The city was the host of the 1996 Summer Olympics and boasts of major professional sports teams in the Braves, Falcons and Hawks, and the city will add a Major League Soccer franchise, Atlanta United FC, in 2017. Other attractions include the world’s largest aquarium and a number of museums that highlight the historical significance of the city during both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. The city also offers some of the best music, dining, and shopping attractions in the country.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GRIZZLY ATHLETICS Pursuing
EXCELLENCE
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Georgia Gwinnett College founded the Office of Athletics with the hiring of Director of Athletics Dr. Darin S. Wilson on July 28, 2011, and over that time, the Grizzlies have become a truly dominant force within the NAIA. The first athletic events took place on August 25, 2012, with a soccer doubleheader against Tennessee Temple, which saw the men and women combine to beat the Crusaders 21-1. The impressive athletic achievements have continued ever since, highlighted by back-to-back-to-back NAIA national championships by the men’s tennis team. The women’s tennis team has also collected two national championships in three seasons of post-season eligibility, while men’s soccer, baseball, and softball have each taken home A.I.I. titles over the past four seasons. All six Grizzly programs have competed in national championship play.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
Our
MISSION
To develop lifelong leaders of character through academic 2014, 2016 and2015, athletic excellence. THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GRIZZLY ATHLETICS
Dr. Darin S.
WILSON
Inaugural Director of Athletics National Athletics Director of the Year Dr. Darin S. Wilson established the Office of Athletics at Georgia Gwinnett College in late 2011 with the vision of being one of the nation’s premier programs. Off to an incredibly quick start, the Grizzlies are in the process of becoming just that. The Grizzlies seek to develop lifelong leaders of character through academic and athletic excellence, inspired by Wilson’s devotion to the student-athlete experience. He has instilled the program’s five core values of Service, Responsibility, Leadership, Sportsmanship and the Pursuit of Excellence. Committed to the idea of continuing professional development, Wilson holds a number of influential positions within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and helps shape policy at the organization’s highest levels. He currently serves on the NAIA’s National Administrative Council, as well as on the NAIA’s Athletic Directors Association Executive Committee. Additionally, he is on the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.), of which GGC is a member. In 2015-16, Wilson received recognition from the A.I.I. as he was named the conference’s Athletics Director of the Year. Wilson’s drive to provide an unparalleled student-athlete experience committed to character-driven intercollegiate athletics has resulted in tremendous early success for the Grizzlies, who currently field teams in baseball, softball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. During the program’s very first season of postseason eligibility in 2013-14, four of the Grizzlies’ six teams competed in the NAIA national tournament, each reaching a national top-10 ranking. Eighteen players secured All-American status over the course of the year and the men’s and women’s tennis teams delivered GGC’s first-ever national titles on May 17, 2014, in Mobile, Ala. Through four-plus seasons on the field, the Grizzlies have far exceeded expectations with a 573-200-17 (.736) overall record across all sports through fall 2016, earning of conference championships three conference championships in men’s soccer, a pair of championships by men’s tennis and baseball and one in softball, too. The Grizzlies have now collected five national titles (3-men’s tennis, 2-women’s tennis) and eight conference championships. In total, GGC has 46 NAIA All-Americans and one NAIA National Player of the Year. The Grizzlies also have successfully bid for and hosted postseason championships in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, softball, and baseball. Student-athletes at Georgia Gwinnett College compete at the state-of-the-art Grizzly Athletics Complex, a $15 million facility which features baseball, softball, soccer and tennis complexes, plus a 25,000-square-foot Athletics building with staff offices, team locker rooms, a weight room, training areas, hospitality suites and academic resource space. Wilson was instrumental in the concept, development and construction phases of the entire project, delivering the Grizzlies one of the nation’s elite athletic complexes.
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY ATHLETICS
Wilson chairs GGC’s intercollegiate athletics committee, and with Wilson’s leadership, Georgia Gwinnett College successfully completed application into the NAIA in April of 2012.
training facilities. The athletics overhaul made Union’s facilities some of the best in the NAIA.
August 25, 2012 marked the historic Opening Day for Grizzly Athletics, with a pair of men’s and women’s soccer victories highlighting the occasion.
Wilson also grew Union’s department of athletics from 15 intercollegiate programs to 23, while effectively revitalizing the athletic booster club and managing a multi-million dollar operational and scholarship budget.
Wilson looks forward to the athletic program’s continued growth and progress at a rapid rate.
For his accomplishments, Wilson was selected as the 2010-11 NAIA National Athletics Director of the Year in the spring of 2012.
Wilson brought a wealth of experience to his position as GGC’s first Director of Athletics, coming from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. He had served as the athletics director since 2003, following a five-year stint as baseball coach. His departure ended 18 years of involvement with Union, from an undergraduate student-athlete to leading the athletics program.
He was recognized as the AAC Athletic Director of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2011, the NAIA Region XII Athletic Director of the Year in 2008, and the 2009-10 NAIA Under Armour AD of the Year for the Southeast Region by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He won this award again in 201415 at GGC.
During Wilson’s time at Union, the college won 47 Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships, four Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference titles, and six NAIA Region XII championships. Union was awarded the AAC Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy for the first time in school history in 2010. Forty-seven players were named NAIA ScholarAthletes, and four players were selected as CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica Team members.
Wilson’s time as a coach and player at Union were marked by success as well. He posted a 161-106-1 baseball coaching record and was named the 2001 Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year, setting a school record with 41 wins. As an undergraduate, Wilson was selected as Male Athlete of the Year while playing for Union.
Wilson oversaw extensive renovation of Union’s sports facilities, including baseball and football locker room remodels, new scoreboards and press boxes, the installation of a $1 million synthetic turf multi-purpose field, and the expansion of athletic
Wilson has a master’s in education from Union College and a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He resides in Gwinnett County with his wife, Natalie, and has two children, Drew and Mara.
ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION Dr. Ian POTTER
Asst. AD Internal Ops.
Erin Ned PRICE COLEGROVE
Asst. AD/SWA Asst. AD Business External Ops.
2014, 2015, 2016
Doug COURT
Asst. AD Facilities and Operations
Jason HENDRIX
Matt MAHONY
Kyle NORTON
James WILLIAMS
Sports Information Video/Broadcast Facilities/Grounds Head Athletic Director Coordinator Manager Trainer
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
Shira WILLIAMS
Asst. Athletic Trainer
Joseph Dr. Suzanne MOSHER BIEDENBACH
Head Strength &
Faculty Athletics
Conditioning Coach Representative
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GRIZZLY ATHLETICS State-of-the-Art
FACILITIES
The Grizzly Athletics Complex, complete with facilities for baseball, softball, and soccer as well as a 25,000-square-foot administration building, was completed in 2013. The complex, which is located adjacent to the main entrance to campus, was built in a step-like manner to take advantage of the natural topography and welcome the GGC community and visitors to campus. The Grizzly Soccer Complex was the first to open and features a synthetic playing surface, a Daktronics scoreboard and ample bleacher and hillside seating. In the spring of 2013, both the baseball and softball teams opened their stadiums, which feature climatecontrolled press boxes, natural grass fields and full dugouts complete with restrooms. The baseball stadium seats 800 and the softball stadium can accommodate up to 600 while the soccer complex features bleacher and hillside seating for over 500. The main athletics building hosts the bulk of the GGC coaching staff and athletics administration. It boasts of locker rooms, conference rooms, a weight room, a sports medicine facility, and a dedicated academic support center.
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
COMPLEX
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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GGC TENNIS FACILIT Just a half-mile from the main Grizzly Athletics Complex sits the GGC Tennis Facility, one of the finest settings for collegiate tennis in the region.
State-of-the-Art
FACILITIES
Acquired by Georgia Gwinnett College in 2012, the facility features 16 fully-lit playing courts, locker rooms, player lounges, a weight room, a pro shop, and both viewing decks and bleachers. In the summer of 2016, the facility underwent a major renovation which saw the Grizzlies’ main eight competition courts completely overhauled for a state-of-the-art playing surface. The facility buzzes with over 300 days of activity per year, including Grizzly Tennis matches and practices, junior academies and tournaments, lessons and clinics, adult league play, and community events. The GGC Tennis Facility also includes four clay courts.
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2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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2017
COACHES 22
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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2017 GRIZZLIES
Chase
HODGES
Head Coach Fifth Season UNC Wilmington, ‘98 Chase Hodges is the first head coach in Georgia Gwinnett tennis history, and in his four-year stay in Lawrenceville, he’s been named national coach of the year five times by the NAIA and twice by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. A decorated coach at all levels of collegiate tennis, Hodges delivered GGC its first-ever national titles in any sport with both the Men’s and Women’s 2014 NAIA National Championship titles. He was able to repeat the feat with the men this past year as he guided them to the 2015 crown while the women finished as the national runner-up. In 2016, the men’s tennis team completed a three-peat as NAIA National Champions while the women’s team collected its second national title in three years of postseason eligibility. Hodges has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience--including the last 15 as a head coach--and boasts the distinction of being the only head coach in college tennis history to lead seven different programs to an ITA national ranking. Those programs include the women’s tennis teams from Longwood, UNC Asheville and GGC as well as the men’s teams from UNC Asheville, Drake, Georgia State and GGC. For six of the seven programs, it marked the first ITA rankings in school history. He owns a career 372-110 (.772) combined men’s and women’s record as a head coach, including a 272-63 men’s record. Hodges also oversees operations at the GGC Tennis Facility in Lawrenceville. In 2016, the men’s team completed a perfect 26-0 season, capturing its third-straight NAIA National Championship. The Grizzly men completed its first wire-to-wire No. 1 ranking and placed six on the All-American selection list (Jordan Cox, Kevin Konfederak, Matias Hatem, Gilad Berman, Lachlan McPhee, and Connor Clements). The men’s team defeated each No. 1 ranked opponent in NCAA Division II and III during the storied season. GGC’s women’s team captured its second NAIA National Championship in 2016 after finishing as runner-up in 2015. With an 18-2 record, the Grizzly women remained undefeated in NAIA play and placed six selections on the All-American team (Valeria Podda, Klara Dohnalova, Chiara Di Salvo, Alyona Vasilyeva, Helga Pinones-Haltenhoff, and Sophie Feller). It was another banner year for the Grizzly men in 2015 as they played unquestionably the toughest schedule in the country, beating opponents from all three NCAA divisions as well as the NAIA to finish the year with a 16-2. In all, GGC beat 11 teams ranked in their respective division, including 2014 NCAA Division II champion West Florida. Led by a line-up that featured five All-Americans, including three first teamers, the Green and Gray coasted through the NAIA National Championships in May, winning all four matches in 5-0 fashion. Hodges earned the ITA National Coach of the Year award for the second successive season, and he further added to that with the same NAIA honor following the tournament. Five Grizzly men ended the year ranked within the nation’s top 50, marking the first time that any four-year program, regardless of division, had achieved that feat in two years. The Grizzly women posted an 11-7 record in 2015, led by the nation’s top-ranked player in sophomore Valeria Podda. The talisman for the Green and Gray for much
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
of the year, she led the way for a GGC line-up that featured five AllAmericans at the national tournament as the team came up just short of claiming back-to-back titles, falling 5-4 in the championship match to Auburn-Montgomery. The GGC men’s squad went 21-0 in 2014, capping an unbeaten season with a 5-1 victory over defending-champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) in the national title match. The Grizzlies earned six NAIA AllAmericans, including three First-Team selections. During the year, the Grizzlies knocked off NCAA Division I, II and III teams, plus the top NAIA programs. Meanwhile, the GGC women’s squad edged the men’s team for the first trophy by a matter of hours, winning the 2014 championship earlier in the day on the same courts at the Mobile Tennis Center, also against Embry-Riddle, in a dramatic 5-4 decision. It stood as Hodges’ 300th career win as a head coach in collegiate tennis. The Grizzlies had eight NAIA All-Americans on the season, including a pair of First-Team players. During the year, the GGC women also earned victories against NCAA Division I, II and III competition, plus the top NAIA programs.
Drake team also achieved the highest ITA national ranking in school history at No. 33, at one point boasting the nation’s longest regularseason winning streak at 42 matches. Before Drake, Hodges spent four combined seasons as head coach at University of North Carolina-Asheville (2002-05) and Longwood University in Farmville, Va., (2002), leading both the men’s and women’s programs. During this time, he led his teams to an overall 105-58 record and their first rankings in school history. A native of Hickory, N.C., Hodges played two years collegiately at North Carolina State University before finishing his career at UNCWilmington. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UNCW in 1998 and a master’s degree there three years later while working with the Seahawks as a graduate assistant. Hodges is the proud father of Gabriella Hodges.
Following the championships, Hodges was named NAIA National Coach of the Year for both men’s and women’s tennis, capping the Grizzlies’ very first season of postseason eligibility with a pair of No. 1 rankings. He also was named 2014 Wilson/ITA NAIA Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year, days after being named South Region winner. He has recruited some of the top players from around the country and around the world to lay the foundation of the Grizzly program, developing many outstanding student-athletes. In addition to the Grizzlies’ on-court success, the men’s tennis team has held the highest team GPA among Grizzly Athletics programs. In Hodges’ first season at GGC in 2013, the Grizzlies posted an 11-1 men’s record and a 5-3 women’s record, marking the first seasons of competition in school history. Hodges came to GGC from Division I Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he capped his three-year tenure by being named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Coach of the Year in April 2012. Hodges’ time with the Panthers (2010-12) featured the greatest turnaround in men’s collegiate tennis history, as he inherited a 1-20 team and led them to a 15-6 mark in his first season. He then set a school record with 21 victories in 2011 and added 20 more wins to the ledger the following year for a 56-17 mark over three years. Before GSU, Hodges spent four successful years (2005-09) at the helm of the Drake University program, where he guided the Bulldogs to a Missouri Valley regular-season or conference tournament title in each season. He was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year three times, leading the squad to an 85-17 overall record. Hodges’
2014, 2015, 2016
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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2017 GRIZZLIES
Courtney
RUTHERFORD
Assistant Coach Fourth Season Coker (S.C.), ‘02 Part of the coaching staff since 2013, Georgia Gwinnett tennis assistant Courtney Rutherford was appointed to the full-time assistant coach position for the Grizzly men’s and women’s tennis teams in January 2016. A longtime coach at the junior, collegiate, and professional ranks, Rutherford assumed the main assistant role for the standout Grizzly tennis programs. A native of Atlanta, Rutherford was a key part of the Grizzlies’ last three NAIA national championships on the men’s side, plus the two women’s titles in 2014 and 2016. He began a part-time role with the Grizzlies in 2013-14, helping GGC to a 63-2 men’s record during his time, a 47-13 women’s mark, and a number of individual national titles. Prior to GGC, Rutherford enjoyed a successful coaching career at multiple levels of tennis. He helped guide WTA player Edina Gallovits-Hall to a No. 54 world ranking, spending 10 years as a personal coach providing on-court instruction, fitness and nutrition programs, and daily schedule planning. Gallovits-Hall has claimed singles victories in all four grand slam tournaments during her career and captured three WTA doubles titles. Rutherford has held academy director positions for several Gwinnett-area tennis clubs over the last dozen years, most recently at the Hamilton Mill Tennis Center in Dacula. He also worked at Magnolia Tennis Center in Dacula and even spent four years as academy director at the former Collins Hill Athletic Club, which has become the GGC Tennis Facility and the Grizzlies’ current home. Many of the male and female junior players Rutherford coached went on to earn collegiate scholarships or reach the professional ranks. Rutherford’s previous collegiate coaching experience came as head coach for two seasons at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga. As a student-athlete, Rutherford competed four seasons for Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., earning team MVP honors with the Cobras. He earned his degree from Coker in 2002, serving as a student assistant to the Dean and doublemajoring in business and psychology. Rutherford resides in Gwinnett County.
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Will
CARROLL
Student Manager First Season Freshman Will Carroll enters his first season as the Georgia Gwinnett men’s tennis team’s student manager. Prior to his arrival at GGC, Carroll graduated from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., in 2016. Carroll was a three-year letterwinner at Parkview, competing in varsity tennis his sophomore, junior, and senior years. During his time at Parkview, Carroll received the Panthers’ Most Improved Award. He served as the men’s team’s Team Captain during senior season where he tallied a 21-1 record in singles play. For his efforts, Carroll reached the Round of 16 in the GHSA State Playoffs. During his tenure with Georgia Gwinnett, Carroll will work hand-inhand with head coach Chase Hodges and assistant coach Courtney Rutherford to assist in practice sessions, drills, and intrasquad competitions. Carroll will also assist with match day results and dayto-day housekeeping of the GGC Tennis Facility. Carroll is majoring in General Business with a concentration in Management.
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GRIZZLIES 28
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES Name Cl. Hometown Previous School Pronunciation Gilad Berman
JR
Ramat Hasharon, Israel
University of Nevada at Las Vegas GEE-LAD BUR-man
Connor Clements
SR
Charleston, S.C.
S.C. Virtual Charter
Rafael Coutinho
SO
Valencia, Venezuela
Warner University (Fla.)
Jordan Cox
SR
Sarasota, Fla.
Keystone National HS
coo-TEEN-yo
Federico Duran FR Rosario, Argentina Colegio J.D. Solis dur-RAN Gregor Hutterer
FR
Grieskirchen, Austria
HBLW Wels
GREE-gor HOOT-er-ER
Kevin Konfederak JR Buenos Aires, Argentina I.E.D. cun-FED-er-ack Sergio Valinotti
FR
Asunciรณn, Paraguay
Colegio de San Jose
val-eh-KNOT-tee
Max Voglgruber
FR
Linz, Austria
Abendgymnasium Spittelwies
VOG-el-grew-brr
Ayed Zatar
SO
Asunciรณn, Paraguay
Middle Tennessee State
EYE-yed zuh-TAR
Coaching Staff Chase Hodges Head Coach, 5th Season Courtney Rutherford
Assistant Coach, 4th Season
Will Carroll
Student Manager, 1st Season
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
29
2017 GRIZZLIES
Connor
CLEMENTS
Senior Charleston, S.C. FALL 2016: Finished with a 10-3 record overall, going 6-1 in doubles play ... Ranked No. 26 in the ITA’s NAIA singles poll and No. 20 in doubles with partner, Gregor Hutterer ... Captured the Grizzly Open’s doubles championship, finishing with a 4-0 record in the tournament ... Quarterfinalist at the Grizzly Open in singles play ... Teamed with Gregor Hutterer as the No. 3 seed in the ITA South Regional Championships in doubles ... Made the quarterfinals with an 8-6 victory over Reinhardt’s duo of Pereira and Deloach ... In singles play, reached the ITA South Regionals’ quarterfinals as the No. 7 seed, losing only to fourth-seeded Thomas Setodji of Xavier (La.). SPRING 2016: Second Team All-American ... Finished the season ranked No. 7 in doubles with partner Matias Hatem ... Helped guide the Grizzlies to their third NAIA National title in-a-row, scoring the fourth point in GGC’s championship match against Xavier (La.) ... Went 33-6 overall, finishing with a 23-3 record in singles play ... Went 1-0 and 3-0 at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, respectively, while going 19-3 at the No. 2 spot. FALL 2015: Did not play due to injury. SPRING 2015: Second Team All-American ... Ended the season ranked No. 39 in singles by the ITA ... Posted a team-best 15-1 record, which included a perfect 12-0 mark at No. 4 ... Recorded clinching victory in three of four NAIA National Championship matches ... Also went 17-2 in doubles ... Peaked at No. 1 in the NAIA rankings with partner Jordan Cox, posting a 10-2 record ... Finished season with Matias Hatem, putting together a 7-0 mark to end with a No. 10 national ranking. FALL 2014: Posted 9-2 record in singles ... Closed out campaign on five-match winning streak, lifting the singles crown at the Grizzly Open ... Beat nation’s second-ranked player in NCAA Division II in the tournament final, posting a 6-3, 6-3 victory ... Advanced to the quarterfinals at ITA South Regional, beating Loyola New Orleans’ Federico Mercado in the first round, William Carey’s Ricky Keppeler in the second and Belhaven’s Daniel Prado in the third ... Eliminated by Nicolas Pinones of Auburn-Montgomery ... Played two matches at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships, coming from behind to win 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 over Arkansas’ William Albanese ... Teamed with Lachlan McPhee to become the first regional doubles champions in GGC history, beating tandems from Belhaven, AUM and William Carey to earn a berth into the ITA National Small College Championships. SPRING 2014: All-America Honorable Mention ... Compiled 12-4 singles record, playing primarily at No. 5 ... Debuted with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Dalton State’s Hadyn Fava at No. 5 ... Went 1-0 at No. 2, beating SCAD Savannah’s Theo Gough ... Posted 1-1 record at No. 3 with the lone win coming against Jabez Beazer ... Put together 3-0 record in the fourth spot, highlighted by a win over NCAA Division I opponent Alvaro Cintas of Tennessee Tech ... Finished 5-3 at line five, which included a 4-0 streak to end the season ... Beat Ibitoye Olonisaken of Fisk and Zahry Edmund of Our Lady of the Lake to help GGC to an unaffiliated/independent tournament crown ... Also won two matches at NAIA National Championships, beating Graceland’s Gustavo Yanez in 6-1, 6-3 fashion in the opener and Embry-Riddle’s Luke de Caires by a score of 6-2, 6-0 to help GGC lift the trophy ... Tied for a team-best 19-1 record in doubles, going a perfect 13-0 with partner Matias Hatem, including 12 matches at No. 3 ... Also went 6-1 with Bruno Tiberti at the second spot ... Finished year on 14-match winning streak in doubles. PRIOR TO GGC: Ranked as one of the top 15 prep players in the United States ... Rated No. 1 in Georgia and the southern region at his age level. PERSONAL: Born Connor Reuck Clements on September 17, 1993, in Lawrenceville, Ga. ... Son of Cameron and Jacque Clements.
Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2013-14 12-4 - 12-4 - 1-0 1-1 3-0 5-3 2-0 2014-15 24-3 9-2 15-1 - - 3-0 12-0 0-1 2015-16 10-3 - 10-3 - 1-0 2-0 1-0 3-2 3-1 2016-17 4-2 4-2 - - - - - - Total 50-12 13-4 37-8 - 2-0 6-1 16-0 8-6 5-1 Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2013-14 19-1 - 19-1 2014-15 21-4 4-2 17-2 2015-16 23-3 - 23-3 2016-17 6-1 6-1 - Total 69-9 10-3 59-6
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Position in Lineup 1 2 3 - 7-1 12-0 4-0 11-2 2-0 1-0 19-3 3-0 - - 5-0 37-6 17-0
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Senior Sarasota, Fla.
Jordan
COX
FALL 2016: Finished with a 7-1 record in singles and 10-2 record in doubles play ... With teammate Kevin Konfederak, successfully defended the ITA South Regionals, ITA Oracle Cup, and ITA Super Bowl championship crowns in doubles play ... Carried a nine-match doubles winning streak into the ITA Indoor National Championships in Flushing, N.Y. ... Defeated Mobile’s Tim Buehler and Mark Simon 6-3, 6-0 to capture ITA South Regional Doubles Championship ... Downed Campbellsville’s Brendan Augilar and Chrys Castro 7-6 (3), 6-1 to win the ITA Oracle Cup NAIA Doubles Championship to advance to the ITA Super Bowl ... Swept through the ITA Super Bowl, defeating West Florida’s Alex Peyrot and Pedro Dumont (6-4, 7-5) of NCAA DII and Seward’s Carlos Anez and Ondrej Nice (6-2, 6-0) of the NJCAA to capture second consecutive Super Bowl crown ... Defeated NCAA DI duo of Yale Goldberg and Sameer Kumar of Stanford (Ca.) 6-4, 6-4 to end the fall doubles season ... Went 5-0 in singles play to capture the ITA South Regional Singles Championship, defeating Konfederak 6-4, 7-5 in the championship match ... Semifinalist in singles at the ITA Oracle Cup. SPRING 2016: First Team All-American ... Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete ... Won third NAIA National Championship as a Grizzly ... Was ranked No. 2 in the ITA’s NAIA singles poll from beginning to end of season ... Finished the spring with a combined a 38-3 record, going 14-1 in singles play ... Carried a 13-match singles winning streak at its height ... Maintained the No. 1 doubles ranking with partner Kevin Konfederak throughout the season ... Compiled a 23-2 doubles record, ending the year on a six-match winning streak ... With Konfederak, tallied GGC’s first point in it’s victory in the NAIA National Championship against Xavier (La.) ... Posted perfect 4-0 record in doubles play during the NAIA National Championship tournament. FALL 2015: Ended season ranked No. 2 nationally in singles ... Posted 7-3 record ... Advanced to the round of 16 at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships at Georgia ... Also made it to the final of both the ITA regional championship and NAIA national championship, falling to teammate Kevin Konfederak in both events ... Ended ranked No. 1 in doubles with partner Konfederak ... Posted 8-2 record ... Won NAIA national championship as well as Small College Super Bowl to punch ticket to National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, where the duo would fall in the quarterfinals. SPRING 2015: First Team All-American ... Finished season ranked second nationally in singles ... Compiled 11-1 singles record with a 7-1 mark at No. 1 ... Finished season on six-match winning streak, beating two ranked DII opponents in No. 6 Thibaud Berland and No. 11 Alex Peyrot of second-ranked Hawaii Pacific and fourth-ranked West Florida, respectively ... Put together 16-3 doubles record, teaming primarily with Connor Clements and Kevin Konfederak ... Went 10-2 with Clements, peaking at No. 1 in the NAIA rankings ... Posted perfect 4-0 record with Konfederak at NAIA Championships, highlighted by a win over Embry-Riddle’s top-ranked duo in the championship match ... Ended season ranked sixth in the NAIA. FALL 2014: Finished season with 8-2 singles record ... Became first-ever regional champion for GGC, beating Rene Ramos of Belhaven and Tushar Mandlekar of Xavier (La.) before dispatching teammates Lachlan McPhee and Matias Hatem in the tournament’s final two rounds to earn a berth into the ITA National Small College Championships ... Defeated both Westmont’s Luke Whalen and Olivet Nazarene’s Oscar Cornella in the first two rounds to advance to the final of the NAIA bracket, where he lost to defending champion Deni Zmak of Embry-Riddle ... Also played at Southern Intercollegiate Championships, making his Grizzly debut with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Arkansas’ Jovan Parlic ... Went 7-1 in doubles ... Teamed with Luke Morland to beat Division I opponents from Davidson and East Tennessee State at Southern Intercollegiates ... Compiled 5-0 record with Matias Hatem en route to claiming the doubles crown at the Grizzly Open, beating a Division I tandem from Alabama State in the first round and teammates and Morland and Lachlan McPhee in the tournament final. PRIOR TO GGC: Put together a decorated juniors career, highlighted by advancing to the final of the 2009 Wimbledon Junior Championships ... Also won the United States U-16 national title ... Trained at IMG Bolletieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. PERSONAL: Born Jordan M. Cox on January 7, 1992, in Miami, Fla. ... Son of Richard and Julie Cox ... Brother, Brad, was an All-American doubles player for the University of Kentucky.
Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2014-15 19-3 8-2 11-1 7-1 4-0 - - - 2015-16 21-4 7-3 14-1 4-1 10-0 - - - 2016-17 7-1 7-1 - - - - - - Total 47-8 22-6 25-2 11-2 14-0 - - - Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2014-15 23-4 7-1 16-3 2015-16 32-4 8-2 24-2 2016-17 10-2 2016 10-2 - 2014, 2015, Total 65-10 25-5 40-5
Position in Lineup 1 2 3 10-0 6-3 23-2 1-0 - - 33-2 7-3 -
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
31
2017 GRIZZLIES
Gilad
BERMAN
Junior Ramat Hasharon, Israel FALL 2016: Did not compete. SPRING 2016: First Team All-American ... Ended the season ranked No. 35 in singles in the ITA’s NAIA rankings ... Finished the season with a 31-2 record overall, tallying a perfect 23-0 record in singles play ... Member of GGC’s third NAIA championship team ... Teamed with Luke Morland (3-1) and Lachlan McPhee (5-1) to post an 8-2 record in doubles play ... Went 3-0 at No. 2 singles, 4-0 at No. 3 singles, and 16-0 at the No. 4 spot ... Tallied the clinching point in GGC’s victory over NCAA DII’s No. 3 Armstrong State (Ga.). FALL 2015: Posted 4-0 singles record at Grizzly Open ... Also went 5-0 in doubles with Luke Morland to lift the tournament crown. PRIOR TO GGC: Attended the University of Nevada at Las Vegas ... Earned Mountain West Freshman of the Year after posting an 18-4 singles record with a 9-10 mark in doubles ... Helped the Rebels to a 17-7 record ... Attended Rothberg High School in Israel ... Was Israel’s top-ranked under-18 player ... Served three years in Israeli Air Force. PERSONAL: Born Gilad Berman on Nov. 30, 1990, in Netanya, Israel ... Son of Moshe Berman. Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2015-16 27-0 4-0 23-0 - 3-0 4-0 16-0 - 2016-17 - - - - - - - - Total 27-0 4-0 23-0 - 3-0 4-0 16-0 - Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2015-16 13-2 5-0 8-2 2016-17 - - - Total 13-2 5-0 8-2
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Position in Lineup 1 2 3 - 2-1 6-1 - - - 2-1 6-1
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Junior Buenos Aires, Argentina
Kevin
KONFEDERAK
FALL 2016: Finished with a 7-2 record in singles and 10-2 record in doubles play ... With teammate Jordan Cox, successfully defended the ITA South Regionals, ITA Oracle Cup, and ITA Super Bowl championship crowns in doubles play ... Carried a nine-match doubles winning streak into the ITA Indoor National Championships in Flushing, N.Y. ... Defeated Mobile’s Tim Buehler and Mark Simon 6-3, 6-0 to capture ITA South Regional Doubles Championship ... Downed Campbellsville’s Brendan Augilar and Chrys Castro 7-6 (3), 6-1 to win the ITA Oracle Cup NAIA Doubles Championship to advance to the ITA Super Bowl ... Swept through the ITA Super Bowl, defeating West Florida’s Alex Peyrot and Pedro Dumont (6-4, 7-5) of NCAA DII and Seward’s Carlos Anez and Ondrej Nice (6-2, 6-0) of the NJCAA to capture second consecutive Super Bowl crown ... Defeated NCAA DI duo of Yale Goldberg and Sameer Kumar of Stanford (Ca.) 6-4, 6-4 to end the fall doubles season ... Won the NAIA singles crown at the ITA Oracle Cup, defeating Cox 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, advancing to the Super Bowl tournament for the second straight season. SPRING 2016: First Team All-American ... Selected as the Ward-Ballinger Outstanding Player Award recipient ... Went undefeated in No. 1 doubles (4-0) and No. 1 singles (3-0) play throughout the NAIA National tournament ... Won second NAIA National Championship as a Grizzly ... Was ranked No. 1 in the ITA’s NAIA singles poll from beginning to end of season ... Finished the spring with a combined a 40-4 record, going 16-2 in singles play ... Carried an eight-match singles winning streak at its height ... Maintained the No. 1 doubles ranking with partner Jordan Cox throughout the season ... Compiled a 24-2 doubles record, ending the year on a seven-match winning streak ... With Cox, tallied GGC’s first point in it’s victory in the NAIA National Championship against Xavier (La.) ... Posted perfect 4-0 record in doubles play during the NAIA National Championship tournament ... Gave GGC the 3-2 lead in the title match, defeating Xavier’s Karan Salwan 6-2, 6-4 in singles play. FALL 2015: Ended season as first-ever GGC men’s tennis player to earn No. 1 ranking ... Lifted both NAIA national championship and Super Bowl championship ... Ended season with 15-3 record ... Started off by advancing to final of Southern Intercollegiate Championships at Georgia, knocking off ranked opponents from UGA, Barry, Virginia Tech and Arkansas in the process ... Won 10 straight matches to book trip to ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championships ... Also teamed with Jordan Cox to earn No. 1 ranking in doubles with 8-2 record ... Earned NAIA and Super Bowl titles in the process ... Fell in the quarterfinals of the National Indoors. SPRING 2015: First Team All-American ... Ended the season ranked No. 5 in singles by the ITA ... Named National Freshman of the Year ... Posted 11-2 record, going 3-2 at No. 1 and 8-0 at the second spot ... Went a team-best 18-1 in doubles ... Put up 6-1 mark with Jordan Cox en route to ending the season ranked sixth in the NAIA ... Finished year with victory over top-ranked duo from Embry-Riddle in national championship match ... Also posted 7-0 record with Matias Hatem and 5-0 record with Lachlan McPhee. PRIOR TO GGC: Ranked No. 17 by the ITF ... Maintained a No. 1 national ranking in Argentina at both the U14 and U16 levels ... Junior Davis Cup Finalist. PERSONAL: Born Kevin Konfederak on July 26, 1991, in Buenos Aires, Argentina ... Son of Gabriel Konfederak and Sandra Smidt.
Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2014-15 11-2 - 11-2 3-2 8-0 - - - 2015-16 31-5 15-3 16-2 13-1 3-1 - - - 2016-17 7-2 7-2 - - - - - - Total 49-9 22-5 27-4 16-3 11-1 - - - Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2014-15 18-1 - 18-1 2015-16 32-4 8-2 24-2 2016-17 10-2 2016 10-2 - 2014, 2015, Total 60-7 18-4 42-3
Position in Lineup 1 2 3 6-0 2-1 10-0 23-2 - 1-0 - - 29-2 2-1 11-0
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
33
2017 GRIZZLIES
Rafael
COUTINHO
Sophomore Valencia, Venezuela PRIOR TO GGC: Attended Escuela el Viñedo and Warner University (Fla.) ... Competed for Warner in 2015-16 ... Member of Warner’s 2016 NCCAA National Championship team ... Tabbed The Sun Conference’s Singles Player of the Year ... Member of The Sun Conference’s Doubles Duo of the Year ... First Team All-Sun Conference in singles and doubles ... Named the NCCAA National Championship tournament’s Rookie of the Year. PERSONAL: Born Rafael Antonio Coutinho on March 12, 1996, in Caracas, Venezuela ... Son of Rafael Coutinho and Yamira Arenas ... Brother, Rafael E. Coutinho, plays collegiate tennis for Warner University (Fla.).
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Sophomore Asunción, Paraguay
Ayed
ZATAR
PRIOR TO GGC: Attended Asunción High School and Middle Tennessee State University (2015-16) … Prior to MTSU, was ranked No. 1 nationally in Paraguay in the 16 and 18 year old age groups ... Landed at the top of the men’s open national rankings ... Ranked as high as 156 in the International Tennis Federation in juniors rankings ... Won tournaments in the E.U.A. at the age of 18 as well as the Men’s Open Singles … While at MTSU, took two wins in his first competition, the Dale Short Shootout, in fall 2015 ... Won at the ITA Men’s All-American Championships over Nico Agritelley from Abilene Christian (Texas) ... Won five times at the USTA/ITA Men’s Ohio Valley Regional, including wins over players from No. 59 Indiana, No. 34 Vanderbilt (Tenn.), and No. 55 ETSU ... In spring 2016, led the Blue Raiders in both singles and doubles wins, with a record of 18-8 in singles action and winning 15 matches in doubles, including a 14-7 record with partner Gonzalo Morell ... Took the win at the No. 5 spot in the lineup over thenNo. 25 ranked Vanderbilt in three sets ... Had a season-best win streak of six matches, from Feb. 3 to Feb. 20 ... Helped the Blue Raiders upset Louisville (Ky.) by winning at No. 3 in three sets ... Won over No. 65 Iowa in three sets at the No. 3 spot in the lineup ... Won twice at the Dale Short Shootout, including a 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 42 Memphis at the No. 4 spot ... Took down his opponent from No. 48 Old Dominion (N.C.) in the regular season finale by a score of 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) at No. 2 ... Followed that up with a victory over the Monarchs in the semifinals of the Conference USA Championship, also at the No. 2 spot, in straight sets ... Won six doubles matches in a row early in the season with Morell, starting with a win over Penn, with the final win in the streak coming against Iowa by a score of 7-5 ... Took the win over Charlotte (N.C.) in the C-USA Championship, 6-1 ... Earned AllConference USA Second Team Singles and First Team Doubles selections. PERSONAL: Born Ayed Farid Zatar Cordero on March 29, 1996, in Asunción, Paraguay ... Son of Shukri Zatar Yambay and Alba Cordero Rivas … Oldest of five-children … Siblings include Jader, Jadirah, Marie Fe, and Hakim. 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
35
2017 GRIZZLIES
Federico
DURAN
Freshman Rosario, Argentina PRIOR TO GGC: Attended Colegio J.D. Solis (Argentina) ... Traveled with the Argentinian National Team and played as a practice player for their squad ... Reveres his time practicing with Guillermo Coria, who was ranked No. 3 in the ATP in 2004, as a highlight to his adolescence. PERSONAL: Born Federico Herrera Duran on Dec. 8, 1997, in Rosario, Argentina … Son of José Luis Herrera Duran and Daniela Botti … Has one sibling, Macarena.
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Freshman Grieskirchen, Austria
Gregor HUTTERER
FALL 2016: Finished ranked No. 20 in the ITA’s NAIA doubles poll with partner, Connor Clements ... Posted a combined 9-5 record in tournament play ... Went 3-3 in singles play while compiling a 6-2 record in doubles ... Reached the Round of 16 at the ITA South Regionals in singles play, defeating Raphael Manzione of Martin Methodist (Tenn.) ... Semifinalist in the ITA South Regionals doubles tournament, defeating Point’s Siyyid and Hewett (8-4) and Reinhardt’s Pereira and Deloach (8-6). PRIOR TO GGC: Attended HBLW Wels in Wels, Austria. PERSONAL: Born Gregor Hutterer on April 15, 1995, in Wels, Austria ... Son of Gerhard Schöfberger and Renate Hutterer ... Has four siblings, Thomas (23), Rochus (19), Adrian (18), and Emma (13). Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2016-17 3-3 3-3 - - - - - - Total 3-3 3-3 - - - - - - Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2014, 2015, 2016 - 2016-17 6-2 6-2 Total 6-2 6-2 -
Position in Lineup 1 2 3 - - - - -
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
37
2017 GRIZZLIES
Sergio
VALINOTTI
Freshman Asunción, Paraguay FALL 2016: Finished with a No. 50 singles ranking in the ITA’s NAIA poll ... Combined for a 13-5 record, going 6-3 in singles and 7-2 in doubles play ... Reached the semifinals of the ITA South Regionals with doubles partner Tony Licata ... Defeated Xavier’s fourth-ranked duo of Albrecht and Mandlekar 8-4 in the Round of 16 ... Teamed with Gregor Hutterer to finish as the doubles tournament runner-up at the Grizzly Open. PRIOR TO GGC: Attended Colegio de San Jose. PERSONAL: Born Sergio Valinotti Castillo on Sept. 14, 1996, in Asunción, Paraguay ... Son of Sergio Ruben Valinotti Gauto and Elizabeth Castillo Diaz ... Has one sibling, Lizzie (24) ... Club Olimpia is his favorite soccer team. Singles Position in Lineup Year Overall Fall Spring 1 2 3 4 5 6 2016-17 6-3 6-3 - - - - - - Total 6-3 6-3 - - - - - - Doubles Year Overall Fall Spring 2016-17 7-2 7-2 - Total 7-2 7-2 -
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Position in Lineup 1 2 3 - - - - -
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2017 GRIZZLIES
Freshman Linz, Austria
Max
VOGLGRUBER
PRIOR TO GGC: Attended Abendgymnasium Spittelwiese in Linz, Austria ... Played on the ULTV Linz club team under coach Michael Schlager. PERSONAL: Born Max Voglgruber on Feb. 20, 1996, in Linz, Austria ... Son of Alois and Nanta Voglgruber ... Has two siblings, Felix (26) and Alex (23).
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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NAIA TEAM RANKINGS
Preseason Poll: January 24, 2017 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Previous 1 2 3 7 5 8 9 13 12 NR 10 14 11 16 15 18 17 NR 19 23 20 21 RV 24 RV
School (First Place Votes) 2016 Final Pts. Georgia Gwinnett (13) 343 Xavier (La.) 332 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 321 Keiser (Fla.) 305 Northwestern Ohio 304 Coastal Georgia 287 William Carey (Miss.) 275 Westmont (Calif.) 261 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 242 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 234 Aquinas (Mich.) 226 Cumberlands (Ky.) 216 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 206 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 195 Warner (Fla.) 189 Reinhardt (Ga.) 172 McPherson (Kan.) 165 William Woods (Mo.) 162 Mobile (Ala.) 146 Campbellsville (Ky.) 135 Bethany (Kan.) 114 Middle Georgia State 111 Marian (Ind.) 92 Tennessee Wesleyan 85 Cumberland (Tenn.) 76
Dropped from the Top 25: Dalton State (Ga.); former member Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Pikeville (Ky.); Indiana Southeast Receiving Votes: Missouri Valley 66; Abury (Ky.) 64; Pikeville (Ky.) 28; Biola (Calif.) 27; Indiana Southeast 19; Davenport (Mich.) 17; Indiana Wesleyan 17; SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 13; SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 12; Missouri Baptist 11; Hastings (Neb.) 5; Loyola (La.) 3
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Top 25 Highlights courtesy of the NAIA (historical information dating back to 2000): • Georgia Gwinnett starts off its season with a No. 1 ranking after winning its third-straight national title last season in a 5-2 victory over Xavier (La.). The Grizzlies hauled in all 13 first-place votes and 343 total points. • The Grizzlies have held the No. 1 rank for 20-straight polls, dating back to May 21, 2014. • The Grizzlies begin their title defense on Jan. 28 against NCAA Division I Kennesaw State (Ga.). • 2016 runner-up Xavier claims the No. 2 ranking. The Gold Rush earned 332 points in this edition. • Rounding out the top five is Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at No. 3 with 321 points, Keiser (Fla.) at No. 4 with 305 points and Northwestern Ohio at No. 5 with 304 points. • The four teams that dropped out of the Top 25 are: Dalton State (Ga.), former member Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), Pikeville (Ky.) and IU Southeast (Ind.). • The Southern States Athletic Conference and the Mid-South Conference leads all leagues with four teams represented each. • Georgia Gwinnett (2015 & 2016), Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (2009, 08, 07) Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (2011, 10), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (2006, 04) and Oklahoma City (2001, 00) are the only teams to go the entire season ranked No. 1. • Auburn Montgomery has the most No. 1 rakings in the Top 25 (29), Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific are second with 23 each.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
ITA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS Men’s Tennis - National Doubles Rankings
As of Nov. 22, 2016
Men’s Tennis - National Singles Rankings Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Player Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Karan Salwan Thomas Setodji Denis Porcic Oscar Mancineiras Brendan Aguilar Arthur Bonnaud Luke Whalen Oscar Barreros Danila Kourkoulin Fabio Perasso Philipp Sibbel Alessandro Moriano Vladyslav Ladygin Illia Filanchuk Christian Barbieri Philip Westwood Julian Turosienski Johnnie Carmichael Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez Ahmed Lahlou Juan Mateus Heitor Garcia Alberto Lapeidra Connor Clements Leonardo Urquidi Sebastian Penaloza Francesco Oliva Yonas Woldetsadik Nicolas Guerschanik Theo Baudin Alfonso Martinez Stefano Licata William East Christian Mathis Adrian Frutos Francisco Perafan Nishanth Rebello Jesus Quesada Rafael E. Coutinho Hector Carillo Mauricio Mosquera Paco Wawriznek Lorenzo Balderrama Fabrice Bissainthe Chrys Castro Derek James Tomas Depiaggio Sergio Valinotti
School 2016 Final Rank Georgia Gwinnett 1 Georgia Gwinnett 2 Xavier, LA 3 Xavier, LA 5 Lindsey Wilson 12 Olivet Nazarene 14 Campbellsville 10 Keiser 50 Westmont 26 William Woods NR Grace NR Cardinal Stritch 13 Westmont NR San Diego Christian 33 William Carey 41 Tabor NR William Woods NR Biola 29 Keiser NR William Woods NR McPherson 11 McPherson 17 Bethany 18 Missouri Valley 24 Arizona Christian NR Georgia Gwinnett NR San Diego Christian 22 Keiser NR Keiser NR Lewis-Clark State 21 Keiser 27 Northwestern Ohio NR Olivet Nazarene NR Georgia Gwinnett NR Cardinal Stritch 38 Westmont NR Keiser NR Warner NR Middle Georgia State 36 Martin Methodist 32 Warner NR McPherson NR Hope International NR Friends NR Arizona Christian NR St. Thomas NR Campbellsville NR Biola NR Lindsey Wilson NR Georgia Gwinnett NR
Rank Doubles Team 1 Cox/Konfederak 2 Aguilar/Castro 3 Porcic/Tellez 4 Perasso/Weich 5 Lapeidra/Moore 6 Fajula/Carillo 7 Baciu/Popa 8 Oliva/Raymond 9 Garcia/Alhamzawi 10 Sibbel/Joens 11 Urquidi/Moriano 12 Turosienski/Ugarte 13 Barbieri/Barrero 14 Galeffi/Balderamma 15 Lee/Mountain 16 Su/Woldetsadik 17 Martinez/Mancineiras 18 Mathis/Whalen 19 Buehler/Simons 20 Clements/Hutterer 21 Lukosiunas/Coutinho 22 Voelker/Kerndl 23 Douillac/Wheeler 24 Hansson/Fosee 25 Cunha/Frutos
School 2015 Final Rank Georgia Gwinnett 1 Campbellsville NR Lindsey Wilson NR Cardinal Stritch 9 Arizona Christian NR McPherson 5 Northwestern Ohio NR Keiser NR Missouri Valley 25 Westmont NR San Diego Christian NR Keiser NR William Woods NR Arizona Christian NR Biola 16 Lewis-Clark St. 21 Olivet Nazarene NR Westmont NR University of Mobile NR Georgia Gwinnett NR Warner NR Missouri Valley NR Arizona Christian NR William Carey NR Keiser NR
Men’s Tennis - South Region Singles Rankings Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Player Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Karan Salwan Thomas Setodji Arthur Bonnaud Vladyslav Ladygin Julian Turosienski Connor Clements Sebastian Penaloza Francesco Oliva Nicolas Guerschanik Stefano Licata Adrian Frutos Francisco Perafan Nishanth Rebello Jesus Quesada Rafael Coutinho Fabrice Bissainte Sergio Valinotti Gregor Hutterer
School Georgia Gwinnett Georgia Gwinnett Xavier, LA Xavier, LA Keiser William Carey Keiser Georgia Gwinnett Keiser Keiser Keiser Georgia Gwinnett Keiser Warner Middle Georgia State Martin Methodist Warner St. Thomas Georgia Gwinnett Georgia Gwinnett
Men’s Tennis - South Region Doubles Rankings Rank Player 1 Cox/Konfederak 2 Oliva/ Raymond 3 Turosienski/Ugarte 4 Buehler/Simons 5 Clements/Hutterer 6 Lukosiunas/Coutinho 7 Hansson/Fosse 8 Cunha/Frutos 9 Valinotti/LIcata 10 Guerschanik/Bonnaud
School Georgia Gwinnett Keiser Keiser Mobile Georgia Gwinnett Warner William Carey Keiser Georgia Gwinnett Keiser
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
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42
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2016
STATISTICS 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
43
2016 DUALGeorgia Gwinnett College MATCH STATISTICS Season statistics
Overall record: 260 • Conference: 00 • Region: 00 • Home: 140 • Away: 40 • Neutral: 80 vs National ranked: 150 • vs Regional ranked: 00 vs Ranked SINGLES
Overall Dual Tour Conf
1
2
3
4
5
6
Nat'l Reg'l Streak Last10 Career
Gilad Berman
230
230
00
00
30
40 160
00
00
W 23
90
230
Connor Clements
103
103
00
00
10
20
10
32
31
00
00
W 3
42
378
Jordan Cox
141
141
00
00
41
10 0
00
00
W 1
31
252
70
70
00
00
10
60
00
00
W 7
70
70
10
00
00
W 14
60
401
Jorge Gonzalez Matias Hatem
140
140
00
00
20
11 0
Kevin Konfederak
162
162
00
00
13 1
31
00
00
W 8
70
274
Tony Licata
62
62
00
00
40
21
01
00
00
W 4
62
135
Lachlan McPhee
101
101
00
00
20
40
41
00
00
W 4
41
223
81
81
00
00
10
41
30
00
00
W 5
61
292
10910
109 10
00
00
17 2
19 1
19 0
230 144 173
00
00
.916
.916
.000
.000
.895
.950
.000
.000
Luke Morland Totals Percentage
1.000 1.000
.778
.850
vs Ranked DOUBLES TEAMS
Overall Dual Tour Conf
1
2
3
232
232
00
00
232
00
00
W 6
82
31
31
00
00
21
10
00
00
W 1
31
Connor Clements/Matias Hatem
233
233
00
00
10
193
30
00
00
L 1
82
Lachlan McPhee/Luke Morland
Jordan Cox/Kevin Konfederak Gilad Berman/Luke Morland
Nat'l Reg'l Streak Last10
123
123
00
00
123
00
00
L 1
82
Jordan Cox/Luke Morland
10
10
00
00
10
00
00
W 1
10
Kevin Konfederak/Tony Licata
10
10
00
00
10
00
00
W 1
10
Gilad Berman/Lachlan McPhee
51
51
00
00
51
00
00
L 1
51
6810
6810
00
00
242
224
224
00
00
.872
.872
.000
.000
.923 .846 .846
.000
.000
Totals Percentage
vs Ranked DOUBLES
Overall Dual Tour Conf
1
2
3
Nat'l Reg'l
21
61
00
00
Gilad Berman
82
82
00
00
Connor Clements
233
233
00
00
10
193
30
00
00
Jordan Cox
242
242
00
00
232
10
00
00
Matias Hatem
233
233
00
00
10
193
30
00
00
Kevin Konfederak
242
242
00
00
232
10
00
00
Tony Licata
10
10
00
00
10
00
00
Lachlan McPhee
174
174
00
00
174
00
00
Luke Morland
164
164
00
00
31
133
00
00
Totals
6810
6810
00
00
242
224
224
00
00
.872
.872
.000
.000
.923 .846 .846
.000
.000
Percentage Generated on 7/19/2016
44
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2016 DUAL MATCH STATISTICS Georgia Gwinnett College Team matchbymatch
SINGLES
Date Feb. 5, 2016
Opponent
Rankings
Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 Nation Region
W
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
THE CITADEL
W
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
Feb. 12, 2016
at #5 Lander (S.C.)
W
72
W
W W W
L
Feb. 13, 2016
vs #9 Dalton State (Ga.)
W
72
W
W W Wr W
L
Feb. 14, 2016
at #2 Emory (Ga.)
W
81
W
W W W
L
Feb. 19, 2016
POINT (GA.)
W
90
W
Feb. 20, 2016
MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE
W
50
u
March 11, 2016
#10 WILLIAM CAREY (MISS.) W
50
u Wr u
March 11, 2016
#23 CUMBERLAND (TENN.)
W
80
u
March 12, 2016
TENNESSEE TECH
W
72
March 13, 2016
#15 CAMPBELLSVILLE (KY.)
W
March 14, 2016
CUMBERLANDS (KY.)
March 25, 2016
Feb. 6, 2016
at USC Aiken
DOUBLES
L
W
#1
W W
L
#1
W W W W
#1
W W W
W W W W W
#1
u
u
u
W W W
#1
u
u
W W W
#1
W W W
W W W W W
#1
L
W W W
L
W W W W
#1
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
W
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
DEPAUW (IND.)
W
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
March 30, 2016
WEST ALABAMA
W
90
W
W W W Wr W W W W
#1
April 5, 2016
#1 EMORY (GA.)
W
81
W
L
W W W W W
#1
W W W
W W
W W
April 8, 2016
vs #3 Armstrong State (Ga.)
W
54
W
W W W
L
L
W
L
L
#1
April 9, 2016
vs #1 Hawaii Pacific
W
53
L
W
u
W
W
L
L
W W
#1
April 10, 2016
vs #8 Valdosta State (Ga.)
W
50
W
u
u
u
u Wf W W W
#1
April 10, 2016
at #4 West Florida
W
52
u
W
u
W
W W
L
#1
L
W
April 17, 2016
TUSCULUM (TENN.)
W
90
W
W W W
W W W W W
#1
May 6, 2016
#25 ASBURY (KY.)
W
50
u
W W
u
u
#1
May 6, 2016
#3 XAVIER (LA.)
W
51
u
u
u
W
W W W
u
u
W W
May 18, 2016
vs #16 Olivet Nazarane (Ill.)
W
50
May 19, 2016
vs #8 Coastal Georgia
W
50
May 20, 2016
vs #5 Dalton State (Ga.)
W
May 21, 2016
vs #3 Xavier (La.)
W
u
W W W L
W
#1
u
u
W W W
#1
Wr u
u Wr u
u
W W W
#1
50
W
W
u
u
u
u
W W W
#1
52
W
u
W W
u
W W
L
L
#1
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
45
Grizzly
HISTORY 46
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
47
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES 2014
National
May 14 May 15 May 15 May 16 May 17
Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Bye as overall No. 3 seed vs. No. 14 Graceland (Iowa)................................... W, 5-1 vs. No. 6 Cumberland (Tenn.)................................. W, 5-2 vs. No. 2 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.).................... W, 5-1 vs. No. 1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.).................................. W, 5-1
TITLES
2014 NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championship First Round May 13
Second Round May 15
Quarterfinals May 15
Final Site:
Semifinals May 16
Mobile Tennis Center Mobile, Ala. May 13-17
Championship May 17
1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5
Coastal Georgia 5 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5
Coastal Georgia 2
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 4 Thursday, 5 p.m.
Hastings (Neb.) 1 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5
Xavier (La.) 5
Xavier (La.) 8 Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Xavier (La.) 0
8 Belhaven (Miss.) 4
Friday, 1 p.m.
1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 1
5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 5
IU Southeast (Ind.) 0 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 4
Northwestern Ohio 1
Northwestern Ohio 9 Thursday, 5 p.m.
SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 7 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
4 Vanguard (Calif.) 1
SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 0
William Carey (Miss.) 2 Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
4 Vanguard (Calif.) 5
4 Vanguard (Calif.) 5 3 Georgia Gwinnett Saturday, 1 p.m. 3 Georgia Gwinnett 5
Bethel (Tenn.) 0 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
3 Georgia Gwinnett 5
Graceland (Iowa) 1
Graceland (Iowa) 9 Thursday, 5 p.m.
Concordia (Calif.) 8 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
3 Georgia Gwinnett 5
Concordia (Calif.) 3
Mobile (Ala.) 1 Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
6 Cumberland (Tenn.) 2
6 Cumberland (Tenn.) 5 Friday, 1 p.m.
3 Georgia Gwinnett 5
7 Westmont (Calif.) 3
Bethany (Kan.) 8 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Bethany (Kan.) 2
Bethany (Kan.) 5
Marian (Ind.) 1 Thursday, 5 p.m.
Aquinas (Mich.) 6 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) 1
Aquinas (Mich.) 1
Webber International (Fla.) 3 Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) 5
2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) 5
All times CDT.
48
Ward-Ballinger Most Outstanding Player Mark Verryth
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2014 SEASON
CHAMPS! Men’s Tennis Delivers National Championship, Unbeaten Season May 17, 2014 Mobile, Ala. - The Georgia Gwinnett men’s and women’s tennis teams captured the first two national championship titles in Georgia Gwinnett College history on Saturday, each winning 2014 NAIA Tennis National Championships over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. First, the Georgia Gwinnett women outlasted the Eagles, 5-4, before the GGC men capped an unbeaten season with a 5-1 victory over the defending champion Eagles. For his success, GGC head coach Chase Hodges was named both the Men’s and Women’s 2014 NAIA Coach of the Year. The championships come in GGC’s very first season of postseason eligibility. “I’m just ecstatic,” said Hodges. “This is hard to even put it in perspective right now. It’s an amazing feeling. I have a great group of players who have been a joy to coach. We just compete out there and if you’re playing the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies, you’re in for a dogfight. Nobody backs down and it’s a pleasure to represent our college. “Today, we just did what we’ve been doing all season and that’s win matches,” Hodges added. “All I can think about is enjoying this for another 364 days.” The Grizzlies become just the second program to ever capture men’s and women’s tennis national championships in the same season. The Georgia Gwinnett men dominated the defending national champion Eagles from the start to complete a perfect 21-0 season and earn the program’s first national title. The third-seeded Grizzlies knocked off each of the two teams ranked ahead of them in the Men’s Tennis Coaches’ Top 25 Poll in second-seeded Auburn Montgomery and top-seeded ERAU (21-4) to win the title over the final two days. Senior Bruno Tiberti clinched the championship Saturday with his 6-1, 7-5 victory over Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios at second singles. The Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead following doubles action, winning on courts two and three. After ERAU briefly went up 1-0 with a win at first doubles, Connor Clements and Matias Hatem rolled to an 8-2 victory at third doubles to level the match. Then, Tiberti and Mark Verryth won 8-3 over Rios and Patrick Besch on court number two to give the Grizzlies the advantage going into singles play. Georgia Gwinnett stepped on the gas in singles action, winning the first set in all six singles matches on the court. The first to finish was Clements, who defeated Luke de Caires at fifth singles, 6-2, 6-0, as GGC went ahead overall, 3-1. Hatem rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 victory on court number three to give the Grizzlies a 4-1 advantage. That left four Grizzlies competing in a race to the finish, with one court eventually setting off the championship celebration. While the matches on the first and fourth courts went to a third set, Luke Morland earned a 5-3 lead in his second set on court six. Simultaneously, Tiberti had rallied from a 5-3 hole in his second set to take a 6-5 advantage. Tiberti pressed on in the deciding game, and when Rios’ final shot went long and wide signaling the championship had been won, Grizzlies from four different courts at the Mobile Tennis Center stormed upon Tiberti to celebrate the men’s program’s first national title. Verryth was named the 2014 Ward-Ballinger Most Outstanding Player for his success in the tournament, while Hatem finishes the year 17-0 in singles play.2015, 2016 2014,
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
49
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES 2015
National
May 12 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 17
Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Bye as overall No. 1 seed vs. No. 18 McPherson (Kan.).................................. W, 5-0 vs. No. 8 San Diego Christian (Calif.)..................... W, 5-0 vs. No. 4 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.).................... W, 5-0 vs. No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.).................................. W, 5-0
TITLES
2015 NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championship First Round
Second Round
May 12
Quarterfinals
May 13
May 14
Final Site:
Semifinals
Mobile Tennis Center Mobile, Ala. May 12-16
Championship
May 15
May 16
1 Georgia Gwinnett (12-2) 5 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
16 Graceland (Iowa) (12-4) 4
1 Georgia Gwinnett (13-2) 5
17 McPherson (Kan.) (17-6) 0
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
17 McPherson (Kan.) (16-5) 5 Thursday, 9 a.m.
9 William Carey (Miss.) (13-6) 9
1 Georgia Gwinnett (14-2) 5
9 William Carey (Miss.) (14-7) 4
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
24 Hastings (Neb.) (18-11) 0
Wednesday, 9 a.m.
8 San Diego Christian (Calif.) (15-8) 0
8 San Diego Christian (Calif.) (14-7) 5 Friday, 9 a.m.
1 Georgia Gwinnett (15-2) 5
5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (15-7) 5 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
12 Northwood (Fla.) (10-2) 7
5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (16-8) 4
12 Northwood (Fla.) (11-3) 0
Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
21 Indiana Wesleyan (18-7) 2 Thursday, 9 a.m.
13 Westmont (Calif.) (10-15) 4 Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
20 Reinhardt (Ga.) (11-3) 5
20 Reinhardt (Ga.) (12-4) 1 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
4 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (21-5) 0
4 Auburn Montgomery (Ala (20-4) 5
4 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (19-4) 5 1 Georgia Gwinnett (16-2) Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
3 Vanguard (Calif.) (25-1) 5 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
14 Bethany (Kan.) (11-1) 6 Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
3 Vanguard (Calif.) (26-1) 5
14 Bethany (Kan.) (12-2) 0
19 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) (20-8) 3 Thursday, 9 a.m.
11 Coastal Georgia (11-7) 5 Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
3 Vanguard (Calif.) (27-2) 0
11 Coastal Georgia (12-8) 0
22 Asbury (Ky.) (15-3) 4 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
6 Xavier (La.) (13-8) 4
6 Xavier (La.) (12-7) 5 Friday, 9 a.m.
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (21-4) 0
7 Northwestern Ohio (18-5) 5 10 Concordia (Calif.) (12-9) 7 Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
23 Mobile (Ala.) (9-10) 2
Wednesday, 9 a.m.
10 Concordia (Calif.) (13-10) 3 Thursday, 9 a.m.
15 Dalton State (Ga.) (11-7) 8 Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.
18 Oklahoma Baptist (10-8) 1
7 Northwestern Ohio (19-6) 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (20-3) 5
15 Dalton State (Ga.) (12-8) 1 Wednesday, 9 a.m.
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (19-3) 5
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (18-3) 5 All times CDT.
50
Ward-Ballinger Most Outstanding Player Jordan Cox
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2015
Men’s Tennis Cruises to Second Consecutive National Championship May 17, 2015 Mobile, Ala. - The Georgia Gwinnett men’s tennis team spent the entire regular season as the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, and the Grizzlies will end the season that way too as they beat Embry-Riddle 5-0 to win a second consecutive NAIA National Championship at Mobile Tennis Center on Sunday. “The men dominated from start to finish this week,” GGC Head Coach Chase Hodges said. “We were the best team here, and we really proved it. I’m really proud of the guys, and I have an extreme amount of confidence in their abilities. It’s hard to win when you have a target on your back all season, but the guys did it. They really stepped up this whole year.” The match came after more than a day of delays, but it didn’t seem to faze the Grizzlies, who won all four matches in the national championship by a 5-0 scoreline. The team is just the second-ever to make it through the entire national tournament without surrendering an individual match, joining the 2006 team from Auburn-Montgomery. GGC is also the first to win back-to-back crowns since AUM won three in a row from 2006-08. Once again, the Grizzlies established their dominance in the early goings as they racked up three victories in doubles. The Australian tandem of Lachlan McPhee and Luke Morland got it started with an 8-2 win over Rodolfo Arreygue and Miguel Lopez Gomez. Jordan Cox and Kevin Konfederak kept the momentum rolling by unseating the fourth-ranked duo of Deni Zmak and Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios in 8-6 fashion. Matias Hatem and Connor Clements closed out the round with an 8-4 victory over Fabian Zierlyn and Carlos Becke. “I’m really proud of how we played in doubles,” Hodges said. “We changed the teams around late in the season, and despite them not playing that much with each other, we felt good about it. Those three combinations can take on anybody in the country, and you can just look at their results this week to see that.” In singles, GGC won the opening set on four of six courts, but it was Clements who picked up the first victory, beating Becke 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 to put the Green and Gray a point away. Hatem, who was playing right next to him at No. 3, sealed the deal with a 6-1, 6-3 decision against Zierlyn. “That was an unforgettable moment for me,” Hatem said. “I was trying not to think about what was going on with the other courts, and I just wanted to get the point. I knew that I wasn’t playing my best tennis before today, but I was going to come out and do whatever I could to get the win for the team today.” Clements finished the tournament as the only Grizzly to register a singles win in all four matches, including the clinching victory in each of the first three. “Connor just does not lose here,” Hodges said. “When we come down to Mobile, he is a beast. He played on another level this whole week. He’s brought his A-game every time we’ve played here, and I’m really proud of him. He’s a great player.” GGC, which now owns an 8-0 all-time record in NAIA Championship matches, finishes its second year of postseason eligibility with a 16-2 record and a 9-0 mark against NAIA competition, blanking all nine.
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
51
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES 2016
National
May 17 May 18 May 19 May 20 May 21
Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Bye as overall No. 1 seed vs. No. 16 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).............................. W, 5-0 vs. No. 8 Coastal Georgia....................................... W, 5-0 vs. No. 5 Dalton State (Ga.).................................... W, 5-0 vs. No. 3 Xavier (La.)............................................... W, 5-2
TITLES
2016 NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championship First Round May 17
Second Round May 18
Quarterfinals May 19
Final Site:
Semifinals May 20
Championship May 21
Mobile Tennis Center Mobile, Ala. May 17-21
1. Georgia Gwinnett, 5
17 Mobile (Ala.), 3 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m.
1. Georgia Gwinnett, 5
16 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 0
16 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 5 Thursday, 1 p.m.
9. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), 5 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
1. Georgia Gwinnett, 5
9. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), 2
24. Hastings (Neb.), 0 Wednesday, 1 p.m.
8. Coastal Georgia, 0
8. Coastal Georgia, 5
Friday, 1 p.m.
1. Georgia Gwinnett, 5
5. Dalton State (Ga.), 5
21. Marian (Ind.),1 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m.
5. Dalton State (Ga.),5
12. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.), 0
12. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.), 5
5. Dalton State (Ga.), 0 Thursday, 1 p.m.
13. Reinhardt (Ga.), 3 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
20. Cumberlands (Ky.), 1
20. Cumberlands (Ky.), 5 Wednesday, 1 p.m.
4. Northwestern Ohio, 4
4. Northwestern Ohio, 5 1. Georgia Gwinnett Saturday, 1 p.m. 3. Xavier (La.), 5
19. Bethany (Kan.), 4 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m.
3. Xavier (La.), 5
14. Westmont (Calif.), 1
14. Westmont (Calif.), 5 Thursday, 1 p.m.
11. William Carey (Miss.), 5 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
3. Xavier (La.), 5
11. William Carey (Miss.), 1
22. Missouri Baptist, 1 Wednesday, 1 p.m.
6. Keiser (Fla.), 3
6. Keiser (Fla.), 5 Friday, 1 p.m.
3. Xavier (La.), 2
7. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 5
23. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), 0
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m.
7. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 5
10. Aquinas (Mich.), 1
10. Aquinas (Mich.), 5 Thursday, 1 p.m.
15. McPherson (Kan.), 0 Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.
7. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 3
18. Warner (Fla.), 1
18. Warner (Fla.), 5 Wednesday, 1 p.m.
2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), 3
2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), 5
Ward-Ballinger Most Outstanding Player Kevin Konfederak All times CDT.
52
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2016
Men’s Tennis Three-Peats as NAIA National Champions May 21, 2016 Mobile, Ala. - The Georgia Gwinnett men’s tennis team captured its third straight NAIA National Title on Saturday, defeating No. 3 Xavier (La.) 5-2 at the Mobile Tennis Complex. “Achieving a three-peat has been the goal since day one of the season,” stated GGC head coach Chase Hodges. “We wanted to accept nothing but that and each match we were tested. Coming back from a 2-1 deficit in doubles was tough, but our guys showed guts and grit and picked up four straight wins in singles to clinch the match. I can’t be more thankful as a coach to see these young men reach their best potential and pull off what is the making of a dynasty.” Georgia Gwinnett caps off the 2016 season with a perfect 26-0 record, maintaining the No. 1 ranking from beginning to end. The 26-0 mark is a program-best that surpasses the 2014 season’s 21-0 record and is the second undefeated season in GGC men’s tennis history. The Grizzlies fell behind 2-1 in doubles play Saturday as the lone GGC win came with the pair of Kevin Konfederak and Jordan Cox defeating Xavier’s Thomas Setodji and Kevin Chaouat 9-8. Faced with the 2-1 deficit at the break, the Grizzlies went back to battle and captured four consecutive singles matches to secure the 2016 National Title. Junior Gilad Berman tied the match at 2-2, winning the first singles match. Berman defeated XU’s Chaouat 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Moments later, Konfederak gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the match, winning 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. Holding a 3-2 lead over the Gold Rush, the Grizzlies moved one point closer to their third national title when junior Connor Clements picked up the fourth GGC victory at No. 6 singles with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Adam Albrecht. Just seconds after Clements picked up the fourth point for GGC, the cheers and celebration began at court three where senior Matias Hatem clinched the 5-2 victory over Xavier with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kyle Montrel at No. 3 singles. Hodges continued, “This is the second time we’ve had a perfect season. In 2014, we went a perfect 21-0 and to duplicate that level of performance is amazing. We are going to take it all in and enjoy it while we can. Watching Matias clinch in his final match as a Grizzly was a highlight. He deserved the clinch and shined in the moment.” During the awards ceremony, Konfederak received the Ward-Ballinger Outstanding Player Award for going undefeated in No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles play throughout the national tournament. Coach Hodges was also named the NAIA Men’s Coach of the Year for the third season in a row.
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
53
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES 2015
Individual National
TITLES
Kevin Konfederak - NAIA Men’s Singles Champion USTA/ITA South Region NAIA Championships - New Orleans, La. Sept. 25 Round of 32 Def. Zach Sheeler (Point).......................................... 6-0, 6-0 Sept. 25 Round of 16 Def. Jeremiah Capdeville (Xavier La.)...................... 6-0, 6-1 Sept. 26 Quarterfinals Def. Luke Morland (GGC).......................................... 6-0, 6-0 Sept. 26 Semifinals Def. Matias Hatem (GGC).......................................... 6-1, 6-0 Sept. 30 Finals *Def. Jordan Cox (GGC)......................................6-3, 4-6, 6-3 *Final match played at GGC Tennis Facility USTA/ITA Small College Championships - Sumter, S.C Oct. 15 Quarterfinals Def. Spartak Rahachou (Baker)................................ 6-0, 6-2 Oct. 16 Semifinals Def. David Veliz (Southeastern)............................... 6-1, 6-1 Oct. 17 NAIA Finals Def. Jordan Cox (GGC)........................................6-4, 6-7, 6-4 --Oct. 17 Super Bowl Semis Def. Ferran Calvo (Tyler)....................................6-3, 4-6, 6-3 Oct. 18 Super Bowl Finals Def. Jan Meyer (Azusa Pacific).................................. 6-2, 6-2 USA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Billie Jean King National Tennis Center - New York, N.Y. Nov. 12 Round of Lost to Hugo di Feo (Ohio State).......................6-4, 6-7, 6-3 Nov. 13 Consolation Lost to Diego Hidalgo (Florida).........................6-3, 6-7, 6-2
Kevin Konfederak Sophomore Buenos Aires, Argentina
Konfederak Wins GGC’s First-Ever Singles National Championship October 17, 2015 Sumter, S.C. - After winning a national championship in doubles a day ago, Kevin Konfederak earned another in singles and Valeria Podda would do the same as play continued for the Georgia Gwinnett men’s and women’s tennis teams on Saturday at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Palmetto Tennis Center. “This was another phenomenal day for us,” GGC head coach Chase Hodges said. “We’re going to be going back to Lawrenceville with three national titles. Going back to when we started this program in 2012, today would really have to rank up there with the best of them. It was that good of a day for us, and everyone has been performing at an extremely high level all week.” Konfederak, who teamed up with Jordan Cox to win the NAIA doubles championship on Friday, was matched up against him for the singles title, and the duo engaged in a battle for the ages. Unfortunately for Cox, he would be the one that had to lose, falling in 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 fashion as Konfederak lifted the first GGC men’s singles national championship in school history. “I’ve been coaching since 1998, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better college tennis match than the one that Jordan and Kevin played today,” Hodges said. “It’s a shame that one of them had to lose, and it really could have gone either way. Everyone from the whole tournament was watching that match, and it may have been the highlight of the week. They both went after it and battled for over three hours, and you could see how much both wanted to win that national title.” The day was a continuation of a spectacular fall campaign for Konfederak, which has included a berth into the final of the Southern Intercollegiate Championships at the University of Georgia as well as a title at the USTA/ITA South Region Championships. The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native was presented with the ITA’s James O’Hara Sportsmanship award following the NAIA final. Konfederak’s run at the Small College Championships on Saturday wasn’t done, however, as he still had two matches to play in the Small College Super Bowl, which represents the final obstacle for a player before the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, which will take place in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., next month. Konfederak started off Super Bowl play with another three-hour singles match, upending junior college national champion Ferran Calvo of Tyler Junior College by a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the championship match. Sunday’s final will see him take on NCAA Division II champion Jan Meyer of Azusa Pacific. In doubles, Konfederak and Cox earned a 7-6, 6-2 victory over the Seminole State tandem of Guy Iradukunda and Ishmael Mzai to advance to Sunday’s final against Concordia (N.Y.)’s Ofir Ginat and Jui Mao. “After Kevin won the NAIA title, Jordan was right there beside him and supporting him for the other singles match,” Hodges said. “It’s great to have guys like that on the team, and he really gets it and helped Kevin keep it going. Then when it turned over to doubles, he came out fresh and ready to go with a lot of energy.”
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES 2015
Kevin Konfederak & Jordan Cox - NAIA Men’s Doubles Champions ITA Superbowl Men’s Doubles Champions USTA/ITA South Region NAIA Championships - New Orleans, La. Sept. 25 Round of 16 Bye Sept. 26 Quarterfinals Def. Austin Aten/Rafa Hewett (Point)............................. 8-4 Sept. 26 Semifinals Def. Tony Licata/Luke Morland (GGC)............................. 8-0 Sept. 29 Finals *Lost to Matias Hatem/Lachlan McPhee (GGC)....... 7-6, 7-6 *Played at Brenau University Indoor Courts due to inclement weather; earned wild card to next round as highest ranked finalist
Jordan Cox Junior Sarasota, Fla.
USTA/ITA Small College Championships - Sumter, S.C. Oct. 15 Quarterfinals Def. Kenta Naka/Daiki Naka..................................... 6-3, 6-0 Oct. 15 Semifinals Def. Daniel Rueda/Thommy Johansson.........6-3, 4-6, 10-7 Oct. 16 NAIA Finals Def. Matias Hatem/Lachlan McPhee (GGC)............. 6-3, 6-2 --Oct. 17 Super Bowl Semis Def. Guy Iradukunda/Ishmael Mzai (Seminole State).......... 7-6, 6-2 Oct. 18 Super Bowl Finals Def. Ofir Ginat/Jui Mao (Concordia)......................... 6-2, 6-4 USA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Billie Jean King National Tennis Center - New York, N.Y. Nov. 12 Round of 32 Bye Nov. 12 Round of 16 Def. Aziz Kijametovic/Adam Moundir (Old Dominion)........ 6-3, 6-4 Nov. 13 Quarterfinals Lost to Brett Clark/Robert Kelly (North Carolina)......6-7, 6-3, 10-8
Kevin Konfederak Sophomore Buenos Aires, Argentina Grizzlies Lift NAIA Doubles Crown at Small College Championships October 16, 2015 Sumter, S.C. - In a day that won’t soon be forgotten in Georgia Gwinnett tennis history, Jordan Cox and Kevin Konfederak further added to their already extensive resumes as the duo combined to hoist the school’s first ever NAIA doubles national championship at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at Palmetto Tennis Center. Cox and Konfederak, who lost the regional doubles crown to teammates Lachlan McPhee and Matias Hatem, were able to avenge the earlier defeat in 6-3, 6-2 fashion to advance to the Small College Super Bowl, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday. “It’s great to bring another national championship back home to Lawrenceville,” GGC head coach Chase Hodges said. “We already had the team titles, and it’s nice to add more to that. Jordan and Kevin are deserving champions, and they played very well today. They’re not just satisfied with the NAIA championship though, they want to win the whole thing.” The Small College Super Bowl represents the final obstacle for the duo as they will be matched up against the champions of the NCAA Division II, Division III and junior college brackets. The winner of the event will move on to the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, which will take place in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., next month. Cox and Konfederak will begin play in the Super Bowl with a showdown against the Seminole State duo of Guy Iradukunda and Ishmael Mzai, who won the junior college crown. In the other 2015, 2016 Super2014, Bowl match, DII champion Concordia (N.Y.) will face DIII champion Trinity.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
55
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES 2016
Individual National
TITLES
Kevin Konfederak - NAIA Men’s Singles Champion ITA NAIA South Regional Championships - Lawrenceville, Ga. Sept. 23 Round of 64 Bye Sept. 23 Round of 32 Def. Zach Sheeler (Point).......................................... 6-0, 6-0 Sept. 24 Round of 16 Def. Alberto Menedez (SCAD).................................. 6-3, 6-3 Sept. 24 Quarterfinals Def. Matias Hatem (GGC).......................................... 6-1, 6-1 Sept. 25 Semifinals Def. Thomas Setodji (Xavier)....................... 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3) Sept. 26 Finals *Lost to Jordan Cox (GGC)........................................ 6-4, 7-5 *Advanced to ITA Oracle Cup as the #2 seed. ITA Oracle Cup - Surprise, Ariz. Oct. 13 Quarterfinals Def. Oscar Barreros (William Woods)....................... 6-4, 6-1 Oct. 14 Semifinals Def. Denis Porcic (Lindsey Wilson)........................... 6-2, 6-2 Oct. 15 NAIA Finals Def. Jordan Cox (GGC)........................................4-6, 6-4, 6-1 --Oct. 15 Super Bowl Semis Lost to Oliver Frank (Azusa Pacific)..................6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Konfederak Captures Second Straight NAIA Singles Title
Kevin Konfederak Junior Buenos Aires, Argentina
56
October 15, 2016 Surprise, Ariz. - Junior Kevin Konfederak captured his second ITA Oracle Cup NAIA Singles Championship in back-to-back seasons on Saturday morning, defeating teammate and doubles partner Jordan Cox 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a highly competitive three-set battle. While Cox finishes as the tournament runner-up, Konfederak advanced to the Super Bowl singles championship as the NAIA representative. Konfederak, who was the overall Super Bowl champion in 2015, dropped his Super Bowl semifinals match to NCAA Division II foe Oliver Frank of Azusa Pacific (Ca.) 4-6, 7-5, 2-6, ending his tournament run. Konfederak’s NAIA singles title brings GGC’s national title count to 13 (5 team, 8 individual) all-time.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES 2016
Kevin Konfederak & Jordan Cox - NAIA Men’s Doubles Champions ITA Superbowl Men’s Doubles Champions ITA NAIA South Regional Championships - Lawrenceville, Ga. Sept. 23 Round of 32 Bye Sept. 23 Round of 16 Def. Chandler Saunders/Nick Runac (SCAD-ATL)........... 8-2 Sept. 24 Quarterfinals Def. BrandonLane/Nikita Hyrnov (Reinhardt)............... 8-4 Sept. 24 Semifinals Def. Tony Licata/Sergio Valinotti (GGC).......................... 8-2 Sept. 25 Finals Def. Tim Buehler/Mark Simon (Mobile)................... 6-3, 6-0
Jordan Cox Senior Sarasota, Fla.
ITA Oracle Cup - Surprise, Ariz. Oct. 13 Quarterfinals Def. Iustin Bacui/Radu Popa (UNOH)........ 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10) Oct. 14 Semifinals Def. Denis Porcic/Alonso Tellez (Lindsey Wilson).... 6-4, 6-0 Oct. 14 NAIA Finals Def. Brendan Aguilar/Chrys Castro (Campbellsville)..... 7-6 (3), 6-1 --Oct. 15 Super Bowl Semis Def. Alex Peyrot/Pedro Dumont (West Florida)................... 6-4, 7-5 Oct. 16 Super Bowl Finals Def. Carlos Anez/Ondrej Nice (Seward)................... 6-2, 6-0
USA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Billie Jean King National Tennis Center - New York, N.Y. Nov. 3 Round of 32 Bye Nov. 3 Round of 16 Lost to Shawn Hadavi/Jackie Tang (Columbia)................... 6-3, 6-3 Nov. 4 Consolation Q’finals Def. Yale Goldberg/Sameer Kumar (Stanford)................... 6-4, 6-4 Nov. 5 Consolation Semis Lost to Alfredo Perez/Johannes Ingildsen (Florida)..... 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (4)
Kevin Konfederak Junior Buenos Aires, Argentina Cox and Konfederak capture Second-Straight NAIA and Super Bowl Doubles Crowns October 16, 2016 Surprise, Ariz. - Senior Jordan Cox and junior Kevin Konfederak successfully defended their ITA Oracle Cup Super Bowl Doubles Championship title on Sunday as the Grizzly duo captured its second consecutive doubles title by defeating Ondrej Nice and Carlos Anez of Seward (Kan.) 6-2, 6-0. Cox and Konfederak advanced to the Super Bowl doubles championship by defeating West Florida’s pair of Alex Peyrot and Pedro Dumont, who were the NCAA Division II representative, in the semifinals on Saturday night. With the victory, Georgia Gwinnett’s tennis program is now home to 14 national championship titles, five team and nine individual. “I’m very proud of Kevin and Jordan as they completely dominated today,” stated GGC coach Chase Hodges. “I don’t think they have ever played this well as a unit. This is an amazing achievement for GGC Tennis. Bringing our 14th overall national title back to 2014, 2015, 2016 Lawrenceville is a special thing.” THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
57
SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATES
Southern
INTERCOLLEGIATES The Grizzlies have frequently competed at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships, one of the nation’s premier individual tournaments held each fall by the University of Georgia at the Dan Magill Tennis Center, which sits adjacent to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame. Georgia Gwinnett is the only NAIA program invited to compete, and is among just a handful of non-NCAA Divsion I programs to be included. The tournament field annually consists of the top players from institutions around the Southeast, including members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), showcasing the talents of the GGC program on one of the brightest stages in the game.
58
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
2013-2015 2013 The Grizzlies put Bruno Tiberti and Erik Moberg in the top-flight singles bracket, where the two combined for three singles wins before being knocked from the field by second- and sixth-ranked UGA players, respectively. Highlighting doubles action, Tony Kostadinov and Evgeny Silitski captured a pair of wins in the second-flight doubles bracket.
2014 The Grizzlies made noise, finishing with a head-turning nine victories over NCAA Division I opponents, including six over individuals or doubles teams from the Southeastern Conference or the Atlantic Coast Conference. Jordan Cox earned the No. 8 overall seed in the top-flight singles bracket and after a bye, defeated a player from Arkansas to reach the round of 16. He was then knocked off by UGA’s Paul Oosterbaan. Matias Hatem also appeared for GGC in the Division I singles bracket, and defeated a player from Virginia Tech in the opening round before bowing out to overall No. 3 Nathan Pasha of UGA.
Erik Moberg
Coach Hodges & Bruno Tiberti
Connor Clements reached the round of 16 in the Division II singles bracket, bouncing a player from Arkansas before falling in two close sets to an East Tennessee State player. Lachlan McPhee had success in the Division III singles field, reaching the semifinals by defeating players from Charlotte, Arkansas and Clemson in straight sets before being defeated by another Clemson Tiger in the final four. Luke Morland notched one victory at the top of the same bracket against a player from Vanderbilt. In doubles action, Cox and Morland made the most successful run from the No. 7 seed in the Division I draw. After a bye, the duo reached the quarterfinals by defeating tandems from Davidson and East Tennessee State before eventually falling to a team from Vanderbilt.
2015 Fall 2015 marked the best showing yet for the Grizzlies in Athens, as Kevin Konfederak raced all the way to the finals of the top-flight Division I singles tournament. Meanwhile, Lachlan McPhee captured the Grizzlies’ first-ever title in Athens by claiming the Division II singles title.
Kevin Konfederak
Konfederak, who began the tournament unseeded, started his run with a win over a player from Barry (Fla.). He then upset two seeded players, starting with No. 11 seed Nick Wood from host UGA, and then No. 4 seed Andreas Bjerrehus from Virginia Tech. On day three, Konfederak defeated Jose Salazar from Arkansas to reach the semifinals, where he outlasted host Georgia’s Paul Oosterbaan, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(2) to make the Monday final in Athens. Awaiting in the championship match was tournament No. 1 overall seed Wayne Mongtomery from UGA. Konfederak would run out of gas in the finals, falling by a 6-4, 6-3 score for the runner-up finish. Jordan Cox also appeared in the Division I draw and played his way into the round of 16 by defeating a player from Lipscomb
and then No. 13 overall seed Ben Wagland from host UGA, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. He then ran up against Georgia Tech standout Christopher Eubanks, the tournament No. 3 seed, eventual semifinalist and amateur who has played his way into ATP Tour events, falling 6-2, 6-4. An injury forced Matias Hatem, who dispatched No. 6 seed Giammarco Micolani from Arkansas, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round, out of the tournament in the third set of his second round match. McPhee’s dash to the Division II crown featured straight-sets victories in five of his six wins. After knocking off players from Lander, Barry and host UGA over the first two days, McPhee bounced a competitor from St. Leo and then Charlie Ghriskey from the College of Charleston, 6-3, 6-2, on Sunday to reach the Monday final. In the most competitive match of the run, McPhee battled to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Clemson’s Christian Harris. Elsewhere, Luke Morland made it to the quarterfinals of the Division III singles bracket with a pair of wins. With the focus on the singles success, the Grizzlies did not make any deep runs on the doubles side.
2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
59
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES 2014 April 25 Quarterfinals vs. Fisk (Tenn.)........................................................ W, 9-0 April 25 Semifinals vs. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)............................ W, 7-0 April 26 Finals at No. 10 Xavier (La.).............................................. W, 5-1
Conference
TITLES
2016 May 6 May 6
JORDAN COX
60
Semifinals Finals
vs. No. 27 Asbury (Ky.)............................................ W, 5-0 vs. No. 3 Xavier (La.)............................................... W, 5-1
Note: In 2015, no tournament was held, but as the highest-ranked independent team, the Grizzlies earned the automatic NAIA tournament berth.
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY ALL-AMERICANS First Team
All-Time Matias Hatem So. - San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina 2014
Bruno Tiberti Sr. - Buenos Aires, Argentina 2014
Mark Verryth So. - Perth, Australia 2014
Jordan Cox So. - Sarasota, Fla. 2015
Matias Hatem Jr. - San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina 2015
Kevin Konfederak Fr. - Buenos Aires, Argentina 2015
Gilad Berman So. - Ramat Hasharon, Israel 2016
Jordan Cox Jr. - Sarasota, Fla. 2016
Matias Hatem Sr. - San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina 2016
Kevin Konfederak So. - Buenos Aires, Argentina 2016
Connor Clements So. - Charleston, S.C. 2015
Connor Clements Jr. - Charleston, S.C. 2016
Lachlan McPhee So. - Brisbane, Australia 2016
AWARDS
Second Team
Erik Moberg So. - Stockholm, Sweden 2014
Honorable Mention
Connor Clements Tony Kostadinov Fr. - Charleston, So. - Sofia, S.C. Bulgaria 2014, 2015, 2016 2014 2014
Lachlan McPhee Fr. - Brisbane, Australia 2015
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
MARK VERRYTH
61
GRIZZLY HISTORY NAIA COACH OF THE YEAR
2014................................. Chase Hodges 2015................................. Chase Hodges 2016................................. Chase Hodges
All-Time
AWARDS
WILSON/ITA COACH OF THE YEAR 2014................................. Chase Hodges 2015................................. Chase Hodges
DAKTRONICS-NAIA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE 2015................................. Matias Hatem, Jr. 2016................................. Matias Hatem, Sr. 2016................................. Jordan Cox, Jr.
CHASE HODGES
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THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY A Theo Arruda (Sao Paulo, Brazil)....................................................... 2013 B Gilad Berman (Ramat Hasharon, Israel)......................................2016 Peter Bodnar (Reading, Pa.).............................................................. 2013 Shaine Brower (Denver, Colo.)......................................................... 2013 C Connor Clements (Charleston, S.C.).............................................2014 Jordan Cox (Sarasota, Fla.)...............................................................2015D Nathan de Veer (Badhoevedorp, Netherlands)......................... 2014 G Jorge Gonzalez (Guadalajara, Mexico)......................................... 2016 H Taylor Hardy (Talladega, Ala.).......................................................... 2013 Aaron Harris (Lawrenceville, Ga.)................................................... 2013 Hernan Hatem (San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina)......2013-14 Matias Hatem (San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina)........2014-16 K Kevin Konfederak (Buenos Aires, Argentina)............................2015 Tony Kostadinov (Sofia, Bulgaria)............................................2013-14 L Tony Licata (Buenos Aires, Argentina)....................................2015-16 M Lachlan McPhee (Brisbane, Australia)....................................2015-16 Erik Moberg (Stockholm, Sweden)..........................................2013-14 Luke Morland (Gold Coast, Australia).....................................2013-16 S Evgeny Silitski (Minsk, Belarus)....................................................... 2014 T Bruno Tiberti (Buenos Aires, Argentina)...................................... 2014 V Mark Verryth (Perth, Australia)........................................................ 2014
All-Time
ROSTER
HERNAN HATEM 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
63
GRIZZLY HISTORY MATCHES PLAYED
Career
RECORDS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Matias Hatem Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Luke Morland
2013-14-................................140 2013-14-2015-16........................132 2014-15-................................130 2014-15-................................125 2012-13-2015-16........................120
SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Matias Hatem Lachlan McPhee
2013-14-................................. 62 2014-15-................................. 58 2014-15-................................. 55 2013-14-2015-16......................... 54 2014-15-2015-16......................... 47
DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 4. 5.
Luke Morland Matias Hatem Connor Clements Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak
2012-13-2015-16......................... 78 2013-14-2015-16......................... 78 2013-14-................................. 78 2014-15-................................. 75 2014-15-................................. 67
DUAL MATCH SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Matias Hatem Kevin Konfederak Luke Morland Jordan Cox
2013-14-................................. 45 2013-14-2015-16......................... 41 2014-15-................................. 31 2012-13-2015-16......................... 30 2014-15-................................. 27
DUAL MATCH DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Luke Morland Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Matias Hatem
2013-14-................................. 78 2012-13-2015-16......................... 70 2014-15-................................. 75 2014-15-................................. 67 2013-14-2015-16......................... 65
TOURNAMENT SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Connor Clements Matias Hatem
2014-15-................................. 28 2014-15-................................. 27 2014-15-2015-16......................... 21 2013-14-................................. 17 2013-14-2015-16......................... 13
TOURNAMENT DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 2. 3. 4.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Matias Hatem Connor Clements
2014-15-................................. 30 2014-15-................................. 22 2014-15-2015-16......................... 18 2013-14-2015-16......................... 13 2013-14-................................. 13
CONNOR CLEMENTS
64
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY WINS 1. 3. 4. 5.
Matias Hatem Connor Clements Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Luke Morland
SINGLES WINS 1. 2. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Matias Hatem Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Lachlan McPhee
DOUBLES WINS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Matias Hatem Connor Clements Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Luke Morland
2013-14-2015-16........................119 2013-14-................................119 2014-15-................................112 2014-15-................................109 2012-13-2015-16......................... 92
2013-14-................................. 50 2013-14-2015-16......................... 49 2014-15-................................. 49 2014-15-................................. 47 2014-15-2015-16......................... 41
Career
RECORDS
2013-14-2015-16......................... 70 2013-14-................................. 69 2014-15-................................. 65 2014-15.................................. 60 2012-13-2015-16......................... 57
DUAL MATCH SINGLES WINS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Matias Hatem Connor Clements Luke Morland Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox
2013-14-2015-16......................... 40 2013-14-................................. 37 2012-13-2015-16......................... 36 2014-15-................................. 27 2014-15-................................. 25
DUAL MATCH DOUBLES WINS 1. 3. 4. 5.
Connor Clements Matias Hatem Luke Morland Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox
2013-14-................................. 59 2013-14-2015-16......................... 59 2012-13-2015-16......................... 51 2014-15-................................. 42 2014-15-................................. 40
TOURNAMENT SINGLES WINS 1. 3. 4. 5.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Connor Clements Two tied
2014-15-................................. 22 2014-15-................................. 22 2014-15-2015-16......................... 17 2013-14-................................. 13 ........................................... 9
TOURNAMENT DOUBLES WINS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Matias Hatem Connor Clements
2014-15-................................. 25 2014-15-................................. 18 2014-15-2015-16......................... 14 2013-14-2015-16......................... 11 2013-14-................................. 10
MATIAS HATEM 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
65
GRIZZLY HISTORY MATCHES PLAYED
Season
RECORDS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Lachlan McPhee Matias Hatem Connor Clements
2015-16.................................. 72 2015-16.................................. 61 2014-15.................................. 56 2015-16.................................. 53 2014-15.................................. 52
SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 2.
Kevin Konfederak Connor Clements Lachlan McPhee Bruno Tiberti Gilad Berman
2015-16.................................. 36 2014-15.................................. 27 2014-15.................................. 27 2013-14.................................. 27 2015-16.................................. 27
DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 3. 4. 5.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Matias Hatem Lachlan McPhee Lachlan McPhee
2015-16.................................. 36 2015-16.................................. 36 2015-16.................................. 33 2014-15.................................. 29 2015-16.................................. 28
DUAL MATCH SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 2. 3. 4.
Gilad Berman Bruno Tiberti Matias Hatem Connor Clements Connor Clements
2015-16.................................. 23 2013-14.................................. 21 2013-14.................................. 17 2013-14.................................. 16 2014-15.................................. 16
DUAL MATCH DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 5.
Connor Clements Jordan Cox Matias Hatem Kevin Konfederak Four tied
2015-16.................................. 26 2015-16.................................. 26 2015-16.................................. 26 2015-16.................................. 26 .......................................... 20
TOURNAMENT SINGLES MATCHES PLAYED
1. 2. 3. 4.
Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Connor Clements Jordan Cox Jordan Cox
2015-16.................................. 18 2014-15.................................. 12 2014-15.................................. 11 2014-15.................................. 10 2015-16.................................. 10
TOURNAMENT DOUBLES MATCHES PLAYED 1. 3. 4.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak
2016-17.................................. 12 2016-17.................................. 12 2014-15.................................. 11 2015-16.................................. 10 2015-16.................................. 10
BRUNO TIBERTI
66
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY WINS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Kevin Konfederak Jordan Cox Matias Hatem Connor Clements Lachlan McPhee
SINGLES WINS 1. 2. 3. 4.
Kevin Konfederak Gilad Berman Connor Clements Lachlan McPhee Bruno Tiberti
DOUBLES WINS 1. 3. 4.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Matias Hatem Jordan Cox Connor Clements Lachlan McPhee
2015-16.................................. 63 2015-16.................................. 53 2015-16.................................. 47 2014-15.................................. 45 2014-15.................................. 44
2015-16.................................. 32 2015-16.................................. 27 2014-15.................................. 24 2014-15.................................. 23 2013-14.................................. 23
Season
RECORDS
2015-16.................................. 32 2015-16.................................. 32 2015-16.................................. 29 2014-15.................................. 23 2015-16.................................. 23 2015-16.................................. 23
DUAL MATCH SINGLES WINS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Gilad Berman Bruno Tiberti Matias Hatem Kevin Konfederak Connor Clements
2015-16.................................. 23 2013-14.................................. 19 2013-14.................................. 17 2015-16.................................. 16 2014-15.................................. 15
DUAL MATCH DOUBLES WINS 1. 3. 5.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Connor Clements Matias Hatem Connor Clements Matias Hatem
2015-16.................................. 24 2015-16.................................. 24 2015-16.................................. 23 2015-16.................................. 23 2013-14.................................. 19 2013-14.................................. 19
TOURNAMENT SINGLES WINS 1. 2. 4.
Kevin Konfederak Connor Clements Lachlan McPhee Jordan Cox Lachlan McPhee
2015-16.................................. 15 2014-15................................... 9 2014-15................................... 9 2014-15................................... 8 2015-16................................... 8
TOURNAMENT DOUBLES WINS 1. 3.
Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak Lachlan McPhee Jordan Cox Kevin Konfederak
2015-16.................................. 10 2015-16.................................. 10 2014-15................................... 8 2015-16................................... 8 2015-16................................... 8
LUKE MORLAND 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
67
GRIZZLY HISTORY 2013
Inaugural Season Overall Record: 11-1 Home: 10-1 | Away: 1-0
All-Time
RESULTS
Feb. 1 (RV) SCAD Savannah (Ga.)............W, 7-2 Feb. 2 (DIII) Covenant (Ga.).....................W, 9-0 Feb. 15 at (DII) Emmanuel (Ga.)................W, 9-0 Feb. 20 Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.).......W, 9-0 Feb. 23 (DII) Georgia Southwestern..........W, 7-2 March 6 (DII) Morehouse (Ga.)...................W, 9-0 March 8 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.)........................W, 9-0 March 9 (DIII) Rhodes (Tenn.).....................W, 7-2 March 26 (DII) Emmanuel (Ga.)....................W, 9-0 March 28 Milligan (Tenn.)............................W, 8-1 April 5 (DII) No. 8 Columbus State (Ga.)....L, 3-6 April 9 (DII) No. 26 Young Harris (Ga.)......W, 6-3 Team ineligible for postseason play in first season
2014
Overall Record: 21-0 Home: 5-0 | Away: 9-0 | Neutral: 7-0
Feb. 5 Dalton State (Ga.).........................W, 9-0 Feb. 9 at (DII) No. 21 USC Aiken (S.C.).........W, 9-0 Feb. 14 at No. 13 Belhaven (Miss.)............W, 6-0 Feb. 15 at No. 15 William Carey (Miss.).....W, 8-1 Feb. 16 vs. No. 6 Xavier (La.)~..................W, 6-1 Feb. 20 at (DII) No. 7 Lander (S.C.)............W, 5-4 Feb. 26 (DII) Morehouse (Ga.)...................W, 9-0 March 8 (DIII) No. 5 Kenyon (Ohio).............W, 5-4 March 10 (DI) Tennessee Tech.......................W, 6-1 March 12 at No. 25 Coastal Georgia..............W, 8-1 March 13 at (DII) No. 2 Armstrong State (Ga.).... W, 6-3 March 15 at SCAD Savannah (Ga.)................W, 9-0 March 25 (DIII) No. 10 Middlebury (Vt.).......W, 7-2 April 3 at (DIII) No. 7 Emory (Ga.).............W, 8-1 April 25 vs. Fisk (Tenn.)#............................W, 9-0 April 25 vs. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)#.....W, 7-0 April 26 at No. 10 Xavier (La.)#...................W, 5-1 May 15 vs. No. 14 Graceland (Iowa)$........W, 5-1 May 15 vs. No. 6 Cumberland (Tenn.)$......W, 5-2 May 16 vs.No.2Auburn-Montgomery(Ala.)$.......W, 5-1 May 17 vs. No. 1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.)$......W, 5-1
2016
Overall Record: 26-0 Home: 14-0 | Away: 4-0 | Neutral: 8-0
Feb. 5 (DII) at USC Aiken (S.C.)................W, 9-0 Feb. 6 (DI) The Citadel (S.C.)....................W, 9-0 Feb. 12 at (DII) No. 5 Lander (S.C.)............W, 7-2 Feb. 13 vs. No. 9 Dalton State (Ga.)*.........W, 7-2 Feb. 14 at (DIII) No. 2 Emory (Ga.).............W, 8-1 Feb. 19 Point (Ga.)....................................W, 9-0 Feb. 20 (RV) Middle Georgia State............W, 5-0 March 11 No. 10 William Carey (Miss.).........W, 5-0 March 11 No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.)...........W, 8-0 March 12 (DI) Tennessee Tech.......................W, 7-2 March 13 No. 15 Campbellsville (Ky.)...........W, 9-0 March 14 Cumberlands (Ky.)........................W, 9-0 March 25 (DIII) DePauw (Ind.)......................W, 9-0 March 30 (DII) West Alabama.......................W, 9-0 April 5 (DIII) No. 1 Emory (Ga.).................W, 8-1 April 8 vs.(DII)No.3ArmstrongState(Ga.)~........W, 5-4 April 9 vs. (DII) No. 1 Hawaii Pacific ~......W, 5-3 April 10 vs. (DI) No. 8 Valdosta State (Ga.)~....W, 5-0 April 10 at (DII) No. 4 West Florida.............W, 5-2 April 17 (DII) Tusculum (Tenn.)..................W, 9-0 May 6 No. 25 Asbury (Ky.) !.....................W, 5-0 May 6 No. 3 Xavier (La.) !.........................W, 5-1 May 18 vs. No. 16 Olivet Nazarene (lll.) $.......W, 5-0 May 19 vs. No. 8 Coastal Georgia $............W, 5-0 May 20 vs. No. 5 Dalton State (Ga.) $.........W, 5-0 May 21 vs. No. 3 Xavier (La.) $...................W, 5-2 * Match played at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. ~ Match played at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. ! Independents Championships (Lawrenceville, Ga.) $ NAIA National Championships (Mobile, Ala.)
~ Match played in Hattiesburg, Miss. # Unaffiliated/Independent Tournament (New Orleans, La.) $ NAIA National Championships (Mobile, Ala.)
2015
Overall Record: 16-2 Home: 10-0 | Away: 3-1 | Neutral: 3-1
ERIK MOBERG
68
Jan. 30 Point (Ga.)....................................W, 9-0 Jan. 31 (DI) The Citadel (S.C.)....................W, 9-0 Feb. 1 Middle Georgia State....................W, 9-0 Feb. 4 (DII) (RV) USC Aiken (S.C.)............W, 8-1 Feb. 6 (DII) No. 8 Lander (S.C.)................W, 7-2 March 8 at (DII) No. 3 Barry (Fla.)................L, 6-3 March 10 at (DII) No. 9 Lynn (Fla.)................W, 5-2 March 11 at (DII) No. 8 St. Leo (Fla.).............W, 5-3 March 14 No. 24 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)..........W, 6-0 March 15 No. 23 SCAD Savannah (Ga.).........W, 9-0 March 17 Cumberlands (Ky.)........................W, 9-0 April 3 vs. (DII) No. 1 Hawaii-Pacific~.......L, 5-3 April 4 at (DII) No. 2 West Florida.............W, 5-3 April 21 (DIII) No. 2 Emory (Ga.).................W, 8-1 May 13 vs. No. 18 McPherson (Kan.)$.......W, 5-0 May 14 vs. No. 8 San Diego Christian (Calif.)$.W, 5-0 May 15 vs.No.4Auburn-Montgomery(Ala.)$....... W, 5-0 May 17 vs. No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.)$......W, 5-0 ~ Match played at theUniversity of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. $ NAIA National Championships (Mobile, Ala.)
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY ARMSTRONG STATE (GA.) Overall Record: 2-0 Away: 1-0 | Neutral 1-0
CUMBERLANDS (KY.)
March 13, 2014 Away..............................W, 6-3 April 8, 2016 Neutral...............................W, 5-4
March 17, 2015 Home.............................W, 9-0 March 14, 2016 Home.............................W, 9-0
ASBURY (KY.)
DALTON STATE (GA.)
May 6, 2016 Home..................................W, 5-0
Feb. 5, 2014 Home..................................W, 9-0 Feb. 12, 2016 Neutral..............................W, 7-2 May 20, 2016 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
AUBURN-MONTGOMERY (ALA.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Neutral: 2-0
May 16, 2014 Neutral..............................W, 5-1 May 15, 2015 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
Overall Record: 3-0 Home: 1-0 | Neutral: 2-0
DEPAUW (IND.)
All-Time
SERIES
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
March 25, 2016 Home.............................W, 9-0
BARRY (FLA.)
Overall Record: 0-1 Away: 0-1
March 8, 2015 Away................................. L, 6-3
BELHAVEN (MisS.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Away: 1-0
Feb. 14, 2014 Away.................................W, 6-0
COASTAL GEORGIA
Overall Record: 2-0 Away: 1-0 | Neutral: 1-0
March 12, 2014 Away..............................W, 8-1 May 19, 2016 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
COLUMBUS STATE (GA.)
Overall Record: 0-1 Home: 0-1
EMBRY-RIDDLE (FLA.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Neutral: 2-0
May 17, 2014 Neutral..............................W, 5-1 May 17, 2015 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
EMMANUEL (GA.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 1-0 | Away: 1-0
Feb. 15, 2013 Away.................................W, 9-0 March 26, 2013 Home.............................W, 9-0
EMORY (GA.)
Overall Record: 4-0 Home: 2-0 | Away: 2-0
April 3, 2014 Away..................................W, 8-1 April 21, 2015 Home...............................W, 8-1 Feb. 14, 2016 Away.................................W, 8-1 April 5, 2016 Home.................................W, 8-1
April 5, 2013 Home.................................. L, 6-3
COVENANT (GA.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
Feb. 2, 2013 Home..................................W, 9-0
CUMBERLAND (TENN.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 1-0 | Neutral: 1-0
May 15, 2014 Neutral..............................W, 5-2 March 11, 2016 Home.............................W, 8-0 2014, 2015, 2016
FISK (TENN.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
April 25, 2014 Neutral.............................W, 9-0
GA. SOUTHWESTERN
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
Feb. 23, 2013 Home................................W, 7-2
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
TONY KOSTADINOV
69
GRIZZLY HISTORY GRACELAND (IOWA)
MOREHOUSE (GA.)
May 15, 2014 Neutral..............................W, 5-1
March 6, 2013 Home...............................W, 9-0 Feb. 26, 2014 Home................................W, 9-0
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
All-Time
SERIES
HAWAII-PACIFIC
Overall Record: 1-1 Neutral: 1-1
April 3, 2015 Neutral................................ L, 5-3 April 9, 2016 Neutral...............................W, 5-3
KENYON (OHIO)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
March 8, 2014 Home...............................W, 5-4
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
OLIVET NAZARENE (ILL.) Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 1-0 | Neutral 1-0
March 14, 2015 Home.............................W, 6-0 May 18, 2016 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE (TEXAS)
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
April 25, 2014 Neutral.............................W, 7-0
LANDER (S.C.)
Overall Record: 3-0 Home: 1-0 | Away: 2-0
Feb. 20, 2014 Away.................................W, 5-4 Feb. 6, 2015 Home..................................W, 7-2 Feb. 12, 2016 Away.................................W, 7-2
LYNN (FLA.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Away: 1-0
March 10, 2015 Away..............................W, 5-2
MCPHERSON (KAN.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
May 13, 2015 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
Jan. 30, 2015 Home................................W, 9-0 Feb. 19, 2016 Home................................W, 9-0
RHODES (TENN.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
March 9, 2013 Home...............................W, 7-2 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN (CALIF.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
May 14, 2015 Neutral..............................W, 5-0
SCAD ATLANTA (GA.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
Feb. 1, 2015 Home..................................W, 9-0 Feb. 20, 2016 Home................................W, 5-0
March 8, 2013 Home...............................W, 9-0
MIDDLEBURY (VT.)
SCAD SAVANNAH (GA.)
March 25, 2014 Home.............................W, 7-2
Feb. 1, 2013 Home..................................W, 7-2 March 15, 2014 Away..............................W, 9-0 March 15, 2015 Home.............................W, 9-0
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
MILLIGAN (TENN.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
TONY LICATA
POINT (GA.)
March 28, 2013 Home.............................W, 8-1
Overall Record: 3-0 Home: 2-0 | Away: 1-0
SPARTANBURG METHODIST (S.C.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
Feb. 20, 2013 Home................................W, 9-0
70
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
GRIZZLY HISTORY ST. LEO (FLA.)
WILLIAM CAREY (MISS.)
March 11, 2015 Away..............................W, 5-3
Feb. 15, 2014 Away.................................W, 8-1 March 11, 2016 Home.............................W, 5-0
Overall Record: 1-0 Away: 1-0
TENNESSEE TECH
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
March 10, 2014 Home.............................W, 6-1 March 12, 2016 Home.............................W, 7-2
THE CITADEL (S.C.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 2-0
Overall Record: 2-0 Home: 1-0 | Away: 1-0
XAVIER (LA.)
Overall Record: 4-0 Home: 1-0 | Away: 1-0 | Neutral: 2-0
Feb. 16, 2014 Neutral..............................W, 6-1 April 26, 2014 Away................................W, 5-1 May 6, 2016 Home..................................W, 5-1 May 21, 2016 Neutral..............................W, 5-2
Jan. 31, 2015 Home................................W, 9-0 Feb. 6, 2016 Home..................................W, 9-0
YOUNG HARRIS (GA.)
TUSCULUM (TENN.)
April 9, 2013 Home.................................W, 6-3
All-Time
SERIES
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
April 17, 2016 Home...............................W, 9-0
USC AIKEN (S.C.)
Overall Record: 3-0 Home: 1-0 | Away: 2-0
Feb. 9, 2014 Away...................................W, 9-0 Feb. 4, 2015 Home..................................W, 8-1 Feb. 5, 2016 Away...................................W, 9-0
VALDOSTA STATE (GA.)
Overall Record: 1-0 Neutral: 1-0
April 10, 2016 Neutral.............................W, 5-0
WEST ALABAMA
Overall Record: 1-0 Home: 1-0
March 30, 2016 Home.............................W, 9-0
WEST FLORIDA (FLA.)
Overall Record: 2-0 Away: 2-0
April 4, 2015 Away..................................W, 5-3 April 10, 2016 Away................................W, 5-2
LACHLAN MCPHEE 2014, 2015, 2016 THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016
71
72
THREE-TIME NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2014, 2015, 2016