YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The Young Harris College men's and women's tennis teams hosted the Mountain Lion Invitational at the Bob & Gayle Nichol Tennis Complex this past weekend (Sept. 20-22).

Joining YHC in the field were Tusculum University, Lee University, Belmont Abbey College, Reinhardt University, and Bluefield College.

"The players competed really hard this weekend," head coach Andrew Cobb said. "It was a long, competitive three days for all the players so it was great the players fight in each round, each day. This is the first time Young Harris has hosted this invitational in a few years so to walk away with flight winners and finalists in singles and doubles on both sides is always a great way to finish a tournament."

Young Harris players posted many wins on the first day of the invitational. On the men's side, Romeo Luque would be the first Mountain Lion to post a win in the Men's A Singles bracket after coming back from a 6-1, 5-2 deficit. Luque slowly fought his way back to a 1-6, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (10-6) win over Mario Belloni of Reinhardt in the first round. Luque would fall to Jesus Garcia of Lee 7-5, 6-0 in the round of 16 of the Men's A Singles flight.

Following suit, Ignacio Ascarrunz and Kash Reddiyar would also pick up first round wins in the Men's A Singles bracket, while Diego Ravelo and Ruben Gonzalez would both post straight set victories in the first round of the Men's C Singles flight. The sole first round win in the Men's B Singles bracket would come from Herman Ronnberg, who fought back from a set down against Rodrigo Huarachi of Bluefield. Ronnberg went on to win the match 4-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0 (10-2).
 
On the women's side, the Mountain Lions picked up straight set wins from seniors Carol Quevedo and Ana Rodriguez. Rodriguez posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Glauka Carvahal of Reinhardt in the quarterfinals of the Women's A Singles flight while Quevedo earned a 6-0, 6-0 win over Sofia Guaglianone of Reinhardt in the quarterfinal round in the Women's B Singles bracket.
 
In doubles play later in the afternoon, Fatima Murphy and Teona Urushadze paired together for a 6-2 win over Hannah Thacker and Abigail Martin in the first round of the Women's C Doubles Round Robin.
 
Following a successful first day, the Mountain Lions would produce wins in both doubles and singles on the second day of the invitational. Murphy and Urushadze would win the Women's C Doubles flight with a 6-4 win over Madeline Benson and Lauren Good of Lee in the second round of the Women's C Doubles Round Robin. Quevedo would pair with Juli Boerr for a 6-2 win over Sierra Donaldson and Lauren Trammell of Lee in the semifinal of the Women's B Doubles bracket, earning a spot in the final. In singles play later that afternoon, Murphy, Urushadze, Quevedo, and Boerr would earn wins with each earning a spot in the final of their bracket. Boerr would finish singles play as the winner of the Women's C Singles consolation bracket with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Taylor Nelson of Reinhardt to finish the evening off for Young Harris.
 
On the men's side, the Mountain Lions would fare well in doubles and singles rounds. The duo of Ronnberg and Brett would earn a 6-2 win over Caio Lopes and Komada of Reinhardt University in the semifinals of the Men's B Doubles bracket, earning a spot in the final on Sunday. Andres Padilla and Carlos Padilla defeated fellow Mountain Lions the duo of Gonzalez and Ravelo 6-4 in the Men's C Doubles consolation final. During singles play in the afternoon, Reddiyar defeated Carlos Nolasco of Belmont Abbey 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 in the Men's A Singles flight while Brett would complete the evening with a 6-5, 6-3 win over fellow teammate, Andres Padilla.
 
With Sunday being full of final rounds in most flights, the duo of Rodriguez and Jing Dong would win the Women's A Doubles flight with a 6-4 win over Lee's doubles pairing of MIcaela Belen Maiz and Donaldson. In the Women's B Doubles flight, Boerr and Quevedo would fall 6-3 to the doubles pair from Lee, Carley Sickinger and Lisa Kirr, in the final. In the Women's C Singles bracket, Murphy would defeat fellow Mountain Lion, Urushadze, 7-5, 6-1 in the final. Quevedo also won the Women's B Singles flight with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lee's Trammell in the championship round. In singles play for the men, Brett fought his way back from a 4-6 deficit in the semifinals of the Men's B Singles consolation flight to earn a spot in the final. He defeated Huarachi of Bluefield 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4), but fell 8-4 to Jai Rowe of Belmont Abbey in the final.
 
Next up for the Mountain Lions will be the the ITA Division II Southeast Regional Championship Friday (Sept. 30) through Monday (Sept. 30) at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina. The qualifier list will be released Monday (Sept. 23).
 
YHC Highlights:
Flight Winners:
Quevedo won Women's B Singles flight
Murphy won Women's C Singles flight
Rodriguez/Dong won Women's A Doubles flight
Murphy/Urushadze won Women's C Doubles flight
Boerr won Women's B Singles: Consolation flight
A. Padilla/C. Padilla won Men's C Doubles: Consolation flight
 
Flight Finalists:
Quevedo/Boerr – Women's B Doubles
Ronnberg/Brett – Men's B Doubles
Brett – Men's B Singles: Consolation

YHC Results
Friday
Romeo Luque defeated M. Belloni of Reinhardt University 1-6, 7-6 (4), 10-6 in the first round
Ignacio Ascarrunz defeated F. Aran of Belmont Abbey College 6-2, 6-1 in the Rd of 16
Sri Reddiyar defeated S. Avendano of Belmont Abbey College 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 in the Rd of 16
Herman Ronnberg defeated R. Huarachi of Bluefield College 4-6, 7-6(1), 10-2 in the Rd of 16
Diego Ravelo defeated M. Batoon of Bluefield College 6-3, 6-4 in the Rd of 16
Ruben Gonzalez defeated R. Flathman of Belmont Abbey College 6-2, 6-1 in the Rd of 16
Ascarrunz/Reddiyar defeated Belloni/Pujadas of Reinhardt Univeristy 6-2 in the Rd of 16
Ronnberg/Brett defeated Cliff/Flathman of Belmont Abbey College in the Quarterfinals
Danelon/Luque defeated Gutu/Rushwaya of Blufield College 6-4 in the Quarterfinals
Ana Rodriguez defeated G. Carvahal of Reinhardt University 6-0, 6-2 in the Quarterfinals
Carol Quevedo defeated S. Guaglianone of Reinhardt University 6-0, 6-0 in the Quarterfinals
Murphy/Urushadze defeated Martin/Thacker of Bluefield College 6-2 in Round 1
 
Saturday
Murphy/Urushadze defeated Benson/Good of Lee University 6-4 in Round 2
Quevedo/Boerr defeated Trammell/Donaldson of Lee University 6-2 in the Semifinals
Fatima Murphy defeated Thacker of Bluefield College 6-1, 6-1 in the Semifinals
Teona Urushadze defeated M. Benson of Lee University 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 in the Semifinals
Carol Quevedo defeated S. Donaldson of Lee University 6-1, 6-0 in the Semifinals
Juli Boerr defeated A. Martin of Bluefield College 7-5, 7-6(4) in the WBC Semifinals
Juli Boerr defeated T. Nelson of Reinhardt University 6-4, 6-1 in the WBC Final
Ronnberg/Brett defeated Lopes/Komada of Reinhardt University 6-2 in the Semifinals
A. Padilla/C. Padilla defeated Ravelo/Gonzalez of Young Harris College in the MCD Final
Sri Reddiyar defeated C. Nolasco of Belmont Abbey College 6-4, 6-2 in the Rd of 16
John Brett defeated Andres Padilla of Young Harris College 6-4, 6-3 in the MBC Quarterfinals
 
Sunday
John Brett defeated R. Huarachi of Bluefield College 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the MBC Semifinals
Fatima Murphy defeated Teona Urushadze of Young Harris College 7-5, 6-1 in the Final
Rodriguez/Dong defeated Maiz/Donaldson of Lee University 6-4 in the Final