AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken's men's tennis team, ranked 37th in NCAA Division II, fell to 14th ranked Georgia College & State University, 5-4, tonight at the USCA Tennis Complex in Aiken, S.C. The Pacers end their regular season with a 12-10 overall record and an 0-8 Peach Belt Conference mark. The Bobcats improve to 16-4 on the season and 6-2 in the PBC.

GC&SU grabbed the early lead by winning two of the three doubles matches. The ninth ranked doubles team in the nation, Neil Scantlebury and Rodrigo Yamauti of GC&SU beat Fernando Blanco and Pierre Negri at number one doubles, 8-5. In number two doubles, USCA's Nicolas Lombardo and Nikesh Singh edged Brandon Lee and Erick Siqueira, 8-6. 

The Bobcats easily won at number one and two singles with Scantlebury, ranked 13th in the nation, and Siqueira, ranked 46th, beating Negri and Lombardo respectively.

Carlos Huerta, Singh and Blanco each won at number three, five and six singles for USC Aiken. The difference maker was at number four singles where Lee fought back from a one set deficit to down Fernando Guevara, 1-6, 6-3 and 6-4.

The Pacers will begin play in the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Thursday. USCA, the ninth seed, will face Lander University, the eighth seed, at 8:00 a.m. The tournament is being hosted by USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.

Tennis Match Results
Georgia College & State Univ. vs USC Aiken
Apr 11, 2005 at Aiken, S.C.
#14 Georgia College & State Univ. 5, #37 USC Aiken 4

Singles competition:
1. #13 Neil Scantlebury (GCSU) def. Pierre Negri (USCA) 6-0, 6-2
2. #46 Erick Siqueira (GCSU) def. Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 6-0, 6-0
3. Carlos Huerta (USCA) def. Rodrigo Yamauti (GCSU) 7-5, 4-1, retired
4. Brandon Lee (GCSU) def. Fernando Guevara (USCA) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Marcelo Ferreira (GCSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Fernando Blanco (USCA) def. Mariano Cebrian (GCSU) 6-4, 7-6

Doubles competition:
1. #9 Neil Scantlebury/Rodrigo Yamauti (GCSU) def. Fernando Blanco/Pierre Negri (USCA) 8-5
2. Nicolas Lombardo/Nikesh Singh (USCA) def. Brandon Lee/Erick Siqueira (GCSU) 8-6
3. Marcelo Ferreira/Renato Oliveira (GCSU) def. Fernando Guevara/Carlos Huerta (USCA) 8-5

Match Notes:
Georgia College & State Univ. 16-4 (6-2 PBC); National ranking #14; Regional ranking #4
USC Aiken 12-10 (0-8 PBC); National ranking #37; Regional ranking #12