Alabama Men's Tennis Falls to Kentucky, 6-1
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama men’s tennis team fell 6-1 to 16th-ranked Kentucky Sunday at Tuscaloosa’s UA recreation courts.
With the loss, the Tide dropped to 6-9 overall and 1-4 in Southeastern Conference play. Kentucky improved to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in SEC play.
The Crimson Tide showed signs of improvement in doubles, winning at No. 2 for the fourth straight match. RJ Murray and Joseph Jung won to remain Undefeated (4-0) since teaming up against South Carolina last weekend.
The Tide eventually lost the point in a closely contested match at No. 3 when Kentucky’s Tigran Martirosyan and Nate Emge got a late break to defeat Mike Green and Eric Molnar, 8-6.
“We keep putting ourselves into good positions and can’t turn the corner,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “I feel like some of the guys lack a little confidence and one good match will give them that. Right now we’re close, but close doesn’t do it.”
“We’ve played one of the toughest schedules in the country this year and we’ve missed some good opportunities. It’s somewhat disheartening but we have a chance to finish strong. We’re going to point to our basketball team and look to go on a run and get some quality wins and qualify for the NCAA tournament.”
The Crimson Tide faces unbeaten Rice on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa. The Owls are ranked sixth in the nation and are having their best year in program history. The match at the UA Recreation Courts begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday and admission is free.
#51 Alabama 1, # 16 Kentucky 6
Doubles
1. Esmail/Witten (UK) d. Mitchell/Gostek (UA) 8-6
2. Murray/Jung (UA) d. Austin/Hume 8-5
3. Martirosyan/Emge (UK) d. Mike Green/Eric Molnar (UA) 8-6
Singles
1. #8 Jesse Witten (UK) d. #55 Stephen Mitchell (UA) 6-4, 6-4
2. Evan Austin (UK) d. Joseph Jung (UA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Tigran Martirosyan (UK) d. Chris Gostek (UA)4-6, 6-0, 6-1
4. Eric Molnar (UA) d. Nate Emge (UK) 6-2, 2-6, 1-2 ret. Inj.
5. Jason Mallaiah (UK) d. RJ Murray (UA) 6-4, 6-4
6. Rahim Esmail (UK) d. Christian Brodersen (UA) 6-3, 6-4
Order Doubles: 1-2-3 Singles: 1-5-6-4-3-2
