Men's Tennis Falls on Road to Georgia Tech
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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ATLANTA – Joseph Jung extended his dual-match winning streak to 14 Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Crimson Tide (3-2) past Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets won 6-1.
Jung improved to 11-6 this season with another come-from-behind win, this time to defeat Marko Rajevac, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. It’s the third consecutive three-set win for Jung as he remains unbeaten this spring at 5-0 and runs his all-time record at No. 1 singles to a perfect 10-0. His current winning streak dates back to March 25, 2005.
“Joe continues to do everything that we ask him to do,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “He plays so well in the team setting and he’s been great for us at the top of the line-up.”
Jung and doubles teammate Mathieu Thibaudeau also came up big at No. 1 doubles for the Tide. Jung and Thibaudeau played together for just the second time this spring and came up with an 8-6 upset win over No. 22-ranked Rajevac and David North. It’s the first ranked team that the Tide’s duo has defeated this season.
Elsewhere, Alabama struggled to pick up another win. However, the match was closer than the final score indicates. The Tide had a chance to even the match at 2-2, but just missed a key break point at No. 2 singles. ‘Bama’s No. 87-ranked Javier Bes and Andrew Felsenthal each lost tough three-set matches that would have brought the score closer.
Moments before Jung clinched his win at No. 1 singles, Bes had an opportunity to break Zachary Rath but couldn’t quite get the final point and eventually dropped his match to in a third set tiebreaker, 7-5.
“We have to do a better job of capitalizing on our opportunities when we have them,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “Overall I feel like we’re playing well. What we have to do a better job of is putting everything together on the same day.”
Alabama will play next at Florida State on February 25. That match will be the final non-conference match for Alabama before opening up SEC play at home on March 3 against Vanderbilt.
Alabama vs Georgia Tech
Feb 18, 2006 at Atlanta, GA
#32 Georgia Tech 6, #53 Alabama 1
Singles competition
1. #100 Joseph Jung (UA) def. Marko Rajevac(GT) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
2. Zachary Rath (GT) def. #87 Javier Bes (UA) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
3. David North (GT) def. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) 6-2, 6-4
4. Jordan Delass (GT) def. Billy Mertz (UA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
5. George Gvelesiani (GT) def. Andrew Felsenthal (UA) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (7-5)
6. Scott Blackmon (GT) def. Sammy Struyf (UA) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Joseph Jung/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. #22 Marko Rajevac/David North (GT) 8-6
2. Scott Blackmon/Zachary Rath (GT) def. Javier Bes/Billy Mertz (UA) 8-5
3. Jordan Delass/George Gvelesiani (GT) def. Andrew Felsenthal/Dan Buikema (UA) 8-3
Match Notes:
Alabama 3-2; National ranking #53
Georgia Tech 4-0; National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,1,4,6,5)
