Alabama Remains Unbeaten with Two Wins Sunday
1/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
 |
|
Just two days after completing an opening-day sweep, No. 37 Alabama (4-0) completed its second sweep in three days with a 5-2 win over Furman and a 5-2 win over Troy on Sunday. This is Alabama’s second 4-0 start in three seasons under head coach Billy Pate.
“This was a good weekend for us,” said Pate. “I’m pleased with the way our team responded and how our freshmen stepped up.”
No. 31 Luigi D’Agord led the way for the Crimson Tide. He was 2-0 in both singles and doubles for the day and improved his season singles record to 20-4 to become the 17th player in Alabama history to earn a 20-win season. D’Agord is well on his way to becoming just the fifth Alabama player to have a 30-win season and is just 15 wins shy of setting the Tide’s all-time single-season win mark currently held by John Stimpson.
In the day’s first match Alabama won the doubles point and two of the first three singles matches and Javier Bes earned his first career match-clinching victory. Bes finally converted on his fourth match-point, second of the third-set tiebreaker, to edge past Furman’s Ben Pauluhn 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8-6).
In the nightcap against Troy, the Crimson Tide showed its grit. After winning the doubles point for the fourth consecutive match, Alabama split the first four singles matches with Troy and knew it needed to pull out one of the final two singles matches to get the win. Alabama did even better; it won both. Andrew Felsenthal defeated Emir Basic in straight sets, 7-6(7), 6-3 to clinch the win for Alabama. Jordie Kindervater then defeated Artur Muller, 6-4, 6-4. Felsenthal was 2-0 on the day. He also earned a win against Furman’s B.J. James, 6-2, 6-2.
“We were pushed this weekend and had to show resolve and grit,” said Pate. “Both matches today were close and had pivotal moments where we had to swing the momentum in our direction. The question now is can we do it on the road and against a Top 20 team.”
Those questions will be answered somewhere in the Tide’s next four matches. Alabama will play a Top 20 team in Virginia and three more teams on the road in the its next four matches.
Alabama won 11 of its 18 matches on Sunday and 27 of 36 on its opening weekend.
Tennis Match Results
Furman vs Alabama
Jan 30, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
#37 Alabama 5, Furman 2
Singles competition:
1. #31 Luigi D'Agord (BAMA) def. Allen Simmons (FUR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
2. Javier Bes (BAMA) def. Ben Pauluhn (FUR) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6)
3. Greg Maarsonalk (FUR) def. Sammy Struyf (BAMA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Billy Mertz (BAMA) def. Brennen Phippen (FUR) 7-6, 6-0
5. Andrew Felsenthal (BAMA) def. BJ James (FUR) 6-2, 6-2
6. Andy Sobczyk (FUR) def. Taylor Striplin (BAMA) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition:
1. Luigi D'Agord/Sammy Struyf (BAMA) def. Allen Simmons/Andy Sobczyk (FUR) 8-6
2. Eric Molnar/Jordie Kindervater (BAMA) def. Ben Pauluhn/Greg Maarsonalk (FUR) 8-5
3. Kevin Lackey/Scott Kahler (FUR) def. RJ Murray/Joseph Jung (BAMA) 8-6
Match Notes:
Alabama 3-0; National ranking #37
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,1,3,2,5,6)
Tennis Match Results
Troy vs Alabama
Jan 30, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Alabama 5, Troy 2
Singles competition:
1. Luigi D'Agord (BAMA) def. Marko Despot (TROY) 6-3, 6-2
2. Irving Morales (TROY) def. Joseph Jung (BAMA) 7-6, 7-5
3. Eric Molnar (BAMA) def. Robert Van Swelm (TROY) 6-3, 7-5
4. Daniel Quiceno (TROY) def. Billy Mertz (BAMA) 7-5, 6-0
5. Andrew Felsenthal (BAMA) def. Emir Basic (TROY) 7-6, 6-3
6. Jordie Kindervater (BAMA) def. Artur Muller (TROY) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition:
1. Luigi D'Agord/Sammy Struyf (BAMA) def. Marko Despot/Robert Van Swelm (TROY) 8-6
2. Eric Molnar/Jordie Kindervater (BAMA) def. Daniel Quiceno/Emir Basic (TROY) 8-5
3. Irving Morales/Artur Muller (TROY) def. RJ Murray/Joseph Jung (BAMA) 9-7
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)
