Valdosta State used a 3-0 lead after doubles to defeat Shorter 6-3 in Gulf South Conference men’s tennis action at the Shorter Tennis Courts on Friday afternoon.

The Blazers (3-8, 3-1) saw the Hawks put up a fight in all three doubles matches, but were able to prevail in each. Andrew Harvin and Joachim Schemm opened the scoring with an 8-5 win over Robert Watson and Cody Carr at No. 3. Taamo Haake and Sebastian Jasyk downed Arturo Lifshitz and Marc Guerry by the same score at No. 2. Konstantin Kutschenko and Mario Navarro pushed VSU’s advantage to 3-0 with an 8-6 victory over Romain Lefevre and Roman Ferreira at No. 1.

Kutschenko put the Blazers on the brink of victory with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Lefevre at No. 1 singles. Guerry got the Hawks on the board with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Navarro at No. 3. Schemm sealed the victory with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Ferreira at No. 2. Jasyk downed Nikola Pavlovic 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4. Lifshitz claimed Shorter’s second point with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 5 over Haake. Watson topped Harvin 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 at No. 6.

Valdosta State will travel to Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match.

VSU women’s tennis downs Shorter 6-3

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State overcame an early deficit caused by having only five players to defeat Shorter 6-3 in Gulf South Conference women’s tennis action at the Shorter Tennis Courts Friday.

Due to an injury to Jessica Tuggle, Valdosta State played a player down, which gave Shorter default victories at both No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.

VSU rebounded to claim both doubles matches played. Michelle Fischer and Alina Nagel topped Candice Laurent and Aurelie Gabroit 8-2 at No. 1. Jennifer Rink and Julianna Boehm downed Iesha Holton and Sicquena Sinclair 8-6 at No. 2.

Nagel pushed Valdosta State’s advantage to 3-2 at No. 2 singles, as she topped Holton 6-1, 6-2, but Laurent evened the match once again with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Fischer at No. 1. Rink defeated Gabroit 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 at No. 3, and Laura Ubeda sealed the win with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Aurore Beltrando at No. 5. Boehm closed with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Sinclair at No. 4.

Valdosta State returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. with a GSC match at Alabama-Huntsville.