Stephen Mitchell Ousted in NCAA First Round Match
5/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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UA senior Stephen Mitchell was ousted in the first round of the NCAA single championships in Tulsa, Okla. on Wednesday after nearly upsetting the tournament’s No. 8 seed.
Mitchell took an easy first set in the match 6-2, and broke to go up 4-1 in the second frame. Mitchell had two chances to go up 5-1 in the second, but couldn’t convert the break, allowing Stanford’s Sam Warburg to stay in the match. Warburg won the second set tiebreaker and took the third set, 6-3.
“He was just a hair away and couldn’t close the door,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “Strategically, Stephen was playing great and frustrating him, but Warburg is one of the favorites to win this thing and he showed great character in coming back.”
Mitchell wrapped up a stellar career in which he won over 150 singles and doubles match while representing Alabama. He assumed the No. 1 singles position for his senior season and was the team’s captain in 2004.
