Bama's Varsity Squad Retires Crimson Tide Alumni
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama men’s tennis team held its inaugural Alumni-varsity reunion match at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility Saturday morning.
The varsity squad swept all four matches and won the cumulative-game formatted match by a score of 34-20.
“The event turned out to be fantastic,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “It’s a unique experience for our players to some of the great All-Americans and standouts that played here. I think the alumni enjoyed playing against our guys, too.”
In the feature match of the day Ellis Ferreira, a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open Champion, and Crimson Tide All-American Francisco Rodriguez faced the varsity squad’s top doubles duo of Stephen Mitchell and Chris Gostek. The varsity pair outlasted the alumni team, winning the match 9-8.
“It was a great experience getting to play against someone who’s had such a long and successful professional career,” Mitchell said. “Ellis (Ferreira) had some good words for me and gave me some advice I can use throughout the season.”
The team opens its spring season with the SEC Indoor Championships in Athens, Ga. on Jan. 15. The dual season opens when the Alabama hosts Troy State and Furman in a double-header in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 7.
