by Doug Page
BLACKSBURG, VA. – The Barton College Bulldogs battled at the No. 1 doubles position against the Bluefield State College Big Blues but would ultimately drop a 9-0 decision on Wednesday at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center in non-conference men's tennis action.
Barton (1-5) had a tough time against an experienced Bluefield State squad as the Bulldogs dropped all six singles matches in the contest. Bluefield State (3-4) won its second straight match after defeating Tusculum last Saturday.
In doubles action, the duo of Giorgi Datashvili and Arthur Figuiere handed Barton's No. 3 tandem of Alessandro Gerbino and Hugh Ryder an 8-0 defeat.
Jesus Gil and Diego Agudelo would fall 8-3 for BC at the No. 2 spot against Bluefield State's Ignacio Pulido and Tom Schmieta. The most competitive match of the doubles competition would come from the No. 1 spot as Rory Gaydon and Oscar Marmestedt dropped a hard-fought 9-7 decision against Alex Rudenco and Luke Busse.
In singles competition, the Big Blues tallied a pair of 6-3, 6-2 victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Gaydon and Marmestedt faltered at the top spots for BC against Rudenco and Figuiere. Agudelo had a pair of 6-2 decisions go the way of Datashvili as the Big Blues notched their third victory in singles play.
Gil dropped his matchup against Pulido at the No. 4 spot, while Gerbino fell in a tiebreaker 6-3, 7-6 (5) against Schmieta. Ryder would follow and see Bluefield State's Busse record a 6-0, 6-2 win.
The Bulldogs return home to open a three-game homestand starting with Mercyhurst University on Thursday at 2 p.m.
