South Carolina Breaks Tide's Winning Streak
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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TUSCALOOSA -- South Carolina broke Alabama’s two-match winning streak Friday night. The Tide lost 6-1 to the Gamecocks at the UA Tennis Complex.
“It’s unfortunate because we had a nice crowd and I felt like we were poised for a great night of tennis,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “Our guys just weren’t able to convert their opportunities when we needed them tonight.”
South Carolina’s top ranked player, No. 55 Tom Eklund, clinched the match for the Gamecocks. Eklund, playing at No. 1 singles defeated the Tide’s Luigi D’Agord in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
In all, three matches stretched to three sets Friday night, two of which Alabama players won the first set. However USC would eventually win all three.
“Until we learn to win the close matches,” Pate said, “we won’t be successful. We have to scratch and claw and convert on the opportunities that we create. I felt like we got off to a few good starts but just couldn’t capitalize.”
Billy Mertz continued to be a bright spot for Alabama Friday as he managed another win. Mertz is 21-10 on the season, 11-5 in dual match play. He defeated Geraldo Knorr at No. 4 singles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to record the Tide’s only singles win.
South Carolina started the match by winning two of the three doubles matches to take the early 1-0 lead. All three matches were tightly contested. At No. 1 doubles Alabama’s Luigi D’Agord and Eric Molnar pulled out a win in a tiebreaker, 9-8(8-6). However, it wasn’t enough to earn the Tide the doubles point. Alabama is now 1-8 when it loses the doubles point in 2005.
Alabama will play its final home SEC match on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the No. 8 Florida Gators.
Tennis Match Results
South Carolina vs Alabama
Mar 25, 2005 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
#47 South Carolina 6, #62 Alabama 1
Singles competition:
1. #55 Tom Eklund (USC) def. #99 Luigi D'Agord (BAMA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Pedro Rodrigues (USC) def. Joseph Jung (BAMA) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Jamie Cuellar (USC) def. Eric Molnar (BAMA) 6-4, 6-1
4. Billy Mertz (BAMA) def. Geraldo Knorr (USC) 6-4, 6-3
5. Dima Babenko (USC) def. RJ Murray (BAMA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
6. Ben Atkinson (USC) def. Sammy Struyf (BAMA) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition:
1. Luigi D'Agord/Eric Molnar (BAMA) def. Pedro Rodrigues/Geraldo Knorr (USC) 9-8 (8-6)
2. Tom Eklund/Jamie Cuellar (USC) def. Joseph Jung/RJ Murray (BAMA) 8-5
3. Ben Atkinson/Dima Babenko (USC) def. Sammy Struyf/Jordie Kindervater (BAMA) 8-6
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,4,1,2,5)
PHOTO GALLERY:
(All photos by Dusty Compton)
