Dalton State's new tennis program completed their fall schedule with only four women's players. Shown are Chelsea Powell and Maria Alejandra Bejaranos. Standing: Coach Zach Rogers, Laura Sophie Winter, Diana Narino, and Coach Michele Bates
Dalton State tennis players were highly competitive in just their second weekend of tennis for the brand new athletic program.
The three-day Grizzly Classic at Georgia Gwinnett’s new tennis facilities here was a great place for DS stars to see where they stand against some of the best tennis players in the southeast.
On Sunday, the Lady Roadrunner’s Chelsea Powell made it into the quarter-finals of her B flight before falling to P. Fuentes, 8-6. Dalton’s women A Flight singles players each lost to players from Brenau in the second round.
Laura-Sophie Winter was defeated by Maria Medina of Brenau, 8-3. Dominita Jasova bested Diana Narino, 8-2. In doubles, Narino and Winter made it to the quarter-finals before losing to Zalina Nazarova and Perdoma, also of Brenau.
Dalton’s Maria Alejandra Bejaranos made it to the second round of women’s Flight B before Michele Samson defeated her, 8-3.
Hadyn Fava made it to the semi-finals of the men’s C Flight before losing. 8-2, to Jarred Thompson of Alabama State. Earlier in the day, Fava knocked-off Gian Taracena of Palm Beach Atlantic (2nd round), 8-6 and Daniel Alligood of Berry College in the quarter-finals, 8-3.
Bruno Tiberti of Georgia Gwinnett defeated the Roadrunner’s Lucas de Souza Sunday in the A Flight singles second round, 8-0. Dalton’s Nikolay Nikiforov was also knocked-out in Sunday’s A Flight second round. Connor Clements (unattached) downed Nikiforov 8-4.
In the singles B Flight, Adam Hornby of DS went to the second round Sunday before Luke Morland (UA) advanced with the 8-6 win.
The weekend action culminates the Dalton State fall season.
Dalton men begin the fall season on Feb. 2, with their first home action at Lakeshore Park. They entertain North Georgia University.
Men and women’s teams go back to Lawrenceville on Feb. 5, to play the Grizzlies. And the first home action on the Lady Roadrunners will be on Feb. 8, against Snead State Community College of Boaz, Al.