Men's Tennis Opens Season With Two Wins at Home
2/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
 |
|
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 18th-ranked Alabama men’s tennis team (2-0) made a strong showing in its season-opening double-header, defeating Troy State (0-3) and Furman (0-3) at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility on Saturday.
Alabama’s 13th-ranked doubles tandem of Chris Gostek and Stephen Mitchell dominated from the open, racing to an 8-1 victory over Irving Morales and Robert Van Swelm at No. 1 doubles. The pair also prevailed over Furman in the second match of the day, winning 8-6 against Furman’s John Chesworth and Brian Crook.
“We played really well together in doubles,” Mitchell said. “We played with a lot of confidence and it was good to get started off with two wins under our belts. We have a tough match next week at Ohio State and we just have to keep it up and try to scrap to get a break.”
Alabama senior Christian Brodersen notched his 50th career dual match singles win with his two victories Saturday. He played perfect singles in the morning match with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over the Trojans’ Clayton Langheim at No. 4 singles. In the afternoon, Brodersen scored a 6-3, 6-1 win over Furman’s Ben Pauluhn. Brodersen is the career leader in singles wins among active Crimson Tide players.
“It was a good day for us,” Brodersen said. “Everyone competed well and stayed focused throughout the day and we got two good wins. I started out well in the morning and took a little while to get my game going this afternoon, but overall I think I’m playing well.”
The Crimson Tide enters the meat of its non-conference schedule next Friday, traveling to Columbus, Ohio to face 15th-ranked Ohio State before facing No. 34 South Florida and Central Florida in two weeks.
Alabama 7, Troy State 0
Doubles
1. Mitchell/Gostek (UA) d. Morales/R. van Swelm (TSU) 8-1
2. Jung/Brodersen (UA) d. C. Van Swelm/Langheim (TSU) 8-4
3. McVey/Molnar (UA) d. Basic/Harfield (TSU) 8-5
Singles
1. Chris Gostek (UA) d. Irving Morales (TSU) 6-1, 6-0
*2. Stephen Mitchell (UA) d. Emir Basic (TSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Joseph Jung (UA) d. Robert Van Swelm (TSU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Christian Brodersen (UA) d. Clayton Langheim (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Eric Molnar (UA) d.Chris Harfield (TSU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Tom McVey (UA) d. Charles van Swelm (TSU) 1-6, 7-6, (10-8)
* clinched match
Order of Finish - Doubles: 1-2-3 Singles: 4-1-2-3-5-6
Alabama 6, Furman 1
Doubles
1. Mitchell/Gostek (UA) d. Chesworth/Crook(FU) 8-6
2. Jung/Brodersen (UA) d. Simmons/Maarchalk (FU) 8-3
3. McVey/Molnar (UA) d. Fillnow/Scott Kohler (FU) 8-4
Singles
1. Stephen Mitchell (UA) d. John Chesworth (FU) 6-3, 6-3
*2. Chris Gostek (UA) d. Pat Fillnow (FU) 6-4, 7-6
3. Joseph Jung (UA) d. Allen Simmons (FU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Christian Brodersen (UA) d. Ben Pauluhn (FU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Eric Molnar (UA) d.Brian Crook (FU) 7-6, 6-2
6. Kevin Lackey (FU) d. Tom McVey (UA) 7-5, 6-7, (10-7)
Order of Finish - Doubles: 2-3-1 Singles: 1-4-2-3-5-6
