Valdosta State’s tennis team won the first six points of the match en route to a 7-2 victory over Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday.

The matches served as the home finale for the Blazers, who had little trouble claiming the three doubles points. Andrew Harvin and Joachim Schemm opened the scoring with an 8-3 victory over Joseph Bjerregaard and Matt Vasant at No. 3, before Konstantin Kutschenko and Mario Navarro topped Evgeniy Vinogradov and Valentin Demande 8-2 at No. 1.

 Tammo Haake and Sebastian Jasyk closed out doubles with an 8-5 victory over Jake Koonce and Tommy Cangelosi at No. 2.

Kutschenko, the seventh-ranked individual player in the nation and the only remaining member of Valdosta State’s 2011 national championship team, gave VSU its fourth point with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Vinogradov at No. 1 while Schemm closed out the victory with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Koonce at No. 2.

Navarro topped Bjerregaard 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3 before Stephen Moore gave Georgia Southwestern its first point with a 6-2, 1-6, 10-5 win over Haake at No. 5. Jasyk gave the Blazers their final point with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Vasant at No. 4 while Demande defeated Harvin 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 at No. 6.

Valdosta State returns to action Friday at 2 p.m. when it takes on Delta State in Pensacola, Fla.

Nelson earns academic honors

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State women’s basketball player Brittney Nelson has been recognized for her success both on the court and in the classroom as the graduate student recently earned both Capital One Academic All-Region as well as Gulf South Conference Academic All-Region team honors.

Nelson, who graduated in December with a degree in Mathematics and is now pursing a Master’s degree, finished her undergraduate career with a 3.70 grade point average.

Additionally, Nelson also received All-Gulf South Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season as she finished seventh in the conference in scoring, first in rebounding, sixth in field goal percentage, 10th in steals, first in three-point field goal percentage, second in three-pointers made, first in defensive rebounds and second in minutes played.

Nelson was one of six Lady Blazers to earn GSC Honor Roll for having a 3.00 grade point average or higher. She was joined on the Honor Roll by junior Ivana Domljanovic, sophomores Katie Repko, Brooke Satterfield and Kourtnee Williams as well as freshman Courtney Sprague.

Football announces title celebration

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State fans are invited to once again celebrate the 2012 Football National Championship by attending the Championship Banquet and Ring Ceremony.

The Banquet will be held Sunday, April 21 at Crosspointe Church, located at 110 Northside Drive. The Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature an awards ceremony as well as members of the team receiving their championship rings. Cost for attending the banquet is $15 per person, with reservations due by Friday, April 12.

Golf rallies for sixth place finish

MIAMI, Fla. — Valdosta State followed a second round 287 with a final round 285 to move from 11th to sixth in the final day of play at the Buccaneer Invitational at the par 71, 6,733 yard Normandy Shores Golf Club Tuesday.

The Blazers finished the tournament with a 54-hole score of 875, or 23 over par. Nova Southeastern claimed the team championship with a 25-under 827, besting host Barry by 13 strokes.

After shooting a five-over 76 in the first round, Nate Anderson rebounded for rounds of 69 and 68 on Tuesday to finish the tournament tied for 12th with an even par 213. Clarke Hendrick (75-70) was five strokes back and tied for 26th while John Fordham (69-74) tallied a 219 to tie for 31st. Abdul Sihag (74-73) tied for 51st at 225 while Drew McGuire (85-76) tied for 80th at 240.

Valdosta State returns to action Monday, April 22, when it opens play in the Gulf South Conference Championship at Tunica National in Tunica, Miss.