From GeorgiaDogs.com: [4] ATHENS, Ga. --- The No. 3-ranked University of Georgia men's tennis team (20-1, 10-0 SEC) clinched the outright 2008 Southeastern Conference Regular-Season Championship Sunday with a 7-0 victory over Vanderbilt [5] (11-8, 3-7 SEC). The Bulldogs also celebrated Senior Day, as Luis Flores (Xalapa, Mexico) and Travis Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.) played their final regular-season home matches for the Bulldogs.

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"I am extremely happy for our guys," said Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz. "This is what we have been working toward all year. They have overcome so many obstacles and today was no exception, as we were missing Javier Garrapiz. Each and every guy has stepped up to be counted for. It is just great to see them out here wearing their SEC Championship T-shirts."
Appropriately, Flores delivered the match-clinching point from the second singles position as he defeated Cromydas, 6-3, 6-4, in the last regular season home match of his career.

"It was pretty special to get the clinch," said Flores. "It was really close, all of these guys played well. In the end it is just another match but it was nice to get the clincher. I want to thank everyone who came out to the match today."

"With everything Flores has overcome it was tremendous to see win on Senior Day," said Diaz. "Our team was dedicated to putting ourselves in a position to compete for the conference championship once he came back. He is getting back into form and it was good to see him clinch."

Georgia has now won 32 total SEC championships in men's tennis. The regular-season crown is Georgia's 25th, the most of any school in the conference. The next-closest is Florida [6], with nine. Additionally, Georgia has won seven SEC Tournament crowns, also the most of any conference school.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead by snagging the doubles point for the 18th time in 21 dual matches this year. Flores and Helgeson teamed up at the second position to get off the court first, beating Nik Cromydas and Bryant Salcedo, 8-5. The doubles point was clinched from the third spot as junior Josh Varela (Watkinsville, Ga.) and sophomore Christian Vitulli (Mombasa, Kenya) took down Adam Baker and Alex Zotov, 8-5. Vanderbilt [7] picked up a win at the first position as Vijay Paul and Ryan Preston topped 26th-ranked Jamie Hunt (San Antonio, Texas) and Nate Schnugg (Medford, Ore.), 8-6.

In singles play, Vitulli gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with his 6-3, 6-3 victory over Zotov at the third singles position. 36th-ranked Hunt then made it 3-0 by virtue of his 7-5, 6-2 win against Salcedo from the fourth spot, setting up Flores for the clinch.

With the match in hand, Varela took down Baker in the sixth position, 6-1, 6-4, to make it 5-0 in the Bulldogs' favor. 11th-ranked Schnugg then pushed it to 6-0 with a win against No. 106 Paul, 7-5, 6-3. Finally, 3rd-ranked Helgeson capped off the shutout with his 4-6, 6-1, 1-0(10-6) win against 55th-ranked Preston.

"It was pretty sweet to see Luis get the clinch," said Helgeson. "Luis and I both really wanted to go out on a good note in our last home match. We played well in doubles, it was a little shaky in singles, but we got it done."

The victory marks Georgia's 40th consecutive win against an SEC opponent and the Bulldogs' 45th straight victory in Athens. Additionally, including the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Georgia is a combined 82-2 (.976) in its last 84 matches.

With Sunday's victory, Georgia also clinched the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament, being played April 17-20 in Fayetteville, Ark. Georgia has won the SEC Tournament championship the last two consecutive years.

The Bulldogs now close out the regular season Saturday, April 12 in Knoxville, with a 2 p.m. match against Tennessee [8]. Georgia is looking to post its third straight undefeated regular season.

Tennis Match Results
Vanderbilt vs Georgia
April 06, 2008 at Athens, Ga.
(Dan Magill Tennis Complex)
#3 Georgia 7, #30 Vanderbilt 0

SINGLES
1. #3 Travis Helgeson (UGA) def. #55 Ryan Preston (VU) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)
2. #75 Luis Flores (UGA) def. Nick Cromydas (VU) 6-3, 6-4
3. #11 Nate Schnugg (UGA) def. #106 Vijay Paul (VU) 7-5, 6-3
4. #36 Jamie Hunt (UGA) def. Evan Dufaux (VU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Christian Vitulli (UGA) def. Bryant Salcedo (VU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Josh Varela (UGA) def. Alex Zotov (VU) 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES
1. Vijay Paul/Ryan Preston (VU) def. #26 Jamie Hunt/Nate Schnugg (UGA) 8-6
2. Luis Flores/Travis Helgeson (UGA) def. Nick Cromydas/Bryant Salcedo (VU) 8-5
3. Josh Varela/Christian Vitulli (UGA) def. Adam Baker/Alex Zotov (VU) 8-5

Match Notes:
Vanderbilt 11-8, 3-7 SEC; National ranking #30
Georgia 20-1, 10-0 SEC; National ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,4,2,6,3,1)
Georgia clinches 3rd consecutive SEC title outright.
Official: Walt Williams A-513