Alabama Tennis Drops Match at Home to Ohio State
2/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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The University of Alabama men’s tennis team lost at home for the first time this season to Ohio State Sunday afternoon, 4-3.
Ohio State won 6 of nine matches played on the afternoon. Ross Wilson clinched the match for Ohio State with a decisive 6-2, 6-0 win over Andrew Felsenthal at No. 5 singles.
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 2-0 lead after winning the doubles point and the first singles point, but Alabama refused to fold.
“We’re close,” Pate said. “We had our chances to win but we just have to start seeing ourselves as the winner. But I did like our energy today.”
The match reached a climax when three critical matches all neared their end simultaneously. Already down 2-0 and with Ohio State’s Ross Wilson having all but wrapped a point for the Buckeyes, Alabama knew it couldn’t afford to lose again.
The Tide’s Eric Molnar and Luigi D’Agord then each forced their matches into a third and final set to give Alabama a fighting chance. Molnar fought back twice late in his match from a one-point deficit to force a third-set tiebreak. He eventually won, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(3) to keep Alabama alive. However, D’Agord couldn’t pull out a victory at No. 1 singles and lost to No. 74 Joey Atas, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3). Moments later Wilson clinched the match for Ohio State.
Sunday’s match was the final warm-up before Southeastern Conference play begins this weekend. Alabama will open up the conference slate at home Friday against No. 8 Georgia. The match is set to begin at 3 p.m. and will be played outdoors at the UA Tennis Complex.
Tennis Match Results
Ohio State vs Alabama
Feb 27, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
#12 Ohio State 4, #42 Alabama 3
Singles competition:
1. #74 Joey Atas (BUCKS) def. #46 Luigi D'Agord (BAMA) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3)
2. #56 Devin Mullings (BUCKS) def. #99 Joseph Jung (BAMA) 6-0, 6-0
3. Javier Bes (BAMA) def. Chris Klingemann (BUCKS) 6-0, 3-4, 6-2
4. Eric Molnar (BAMA) def. Scott Green (BUCKS) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Ross Wilson (BUCKS) def. Andrew Felsenthal (BAMA) 6-2, 6-0
6. Billy Mertz (BAMA) def. Dennis Mertens (BUCKS) 9-8
Doubles competition:
1. #1 Ross Wilson/Scott Green (BUCKS) def. Luigi D'Agord/Eric Molnar (BAMA) 8-4
2. Devin Mullings/Dennis Mertens (BUCKS) def. Sammy Struyf/RJ Murray (BAMA) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Joey Atas/Drew Eberly (BUCKS) def. Billy Mertz/Jordie Kindervater (BAMA) 8-6
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,4,1,5,3,6)
