Buikema/Struyf Claim Title at Crimson Tide Fall Championships
9/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
 |
|
Alabama’s Dan Buikema and Sammy Struyf claimed the Flight B doubles Championship Sunday and Javier Bes fell in a tough three-set match in Flight A Singles Final during the final day of action at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships.
Buikema and Struyf, the flight’s No. 3 seed, cruised to an 8-1 win in Sunday morning’s semifinal over William and Mary’s Matt Rubenstein and Alex Zuck. The final was then forced to be cancelled after Marek Dvorak and Jan Zelezny withdrew from the tournament. Buikema and Struyf finished a perfect 3-0 on the weekend.
“Overall this was not a bad start for us,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “There were a lot of things we’ll be anxious to work on in practice, but that is what the Fall is for. We look to improve on every facet of the game.”
Bes’ loss in the single’s final came to Colorado’s Eric Molnar. After Molnar broke Bes’ serve to jump out to a 5-2 first set lead, Bes clawed his way back into the match by winning the next seven games. Bes was then up a set and a break in the second set when the momentum began to shift towards Molnar.
“Javier (Bes) had the momentum and had won seven straight games,” Pates said, “but from there I think he tightened up a little bit and the past two days began to catch up to him.”
Molnar would win the final two sets and took the match 5-7; 6-3; 6-3, but Pate was encouraged by what he saw.
“Javier had good tournament,” Pate said. “I’m a little disappointed that he wasn’t quite as strong today as he was yesterday, but that’s what happens when you play two tough matches the day before. It was a great effort and we’ll build on that.”
In One-on-One doubles action, the flight A Championship was won by Virginia’s Eric Riley. Riley defeated Marko Rajivec 9-8(9) in the finals. Jarrett Chirico of Virginia took home the flight B crown. These matches can be seen on October 16 at 6 p.m. cst on FOX College Sports Atlantic.
Flight A Finals
Eric Molnar (Colo) d. Javier Bes (UA), 5-7; 6-3; 6-3
Flight B Doubles
Dan Buikema/Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Matt Rubenstein/Alex Zuck (WM), 8-1
Flight A Consolation
Andrew Felsenthal/Joseph Jung (UA) d. Grant/Misner, 8-4
Flight C Consolation
Dylan Mezey (USM) d. Andrew Felsenthal (UA), 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
