Alabama Tennis Sweeps Samford, UAB
4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama (12-11, 3-7 SEC) tennis team defeated Samford and UAB Wednesday at Brook Highland Racquet Club to run its win streak over in-state opponents to nine. ??Bama defeated Samford in the opener 6-0 and UAB in the nightcap 4-3.
After disposing of Samford with relative ease, Alabama had to use its depth in the day’s second match to defeat UAB. The Blazers swept the doubles point from the Crimson Tide to take a 1-0 lead, but Alabama was able to win four of the six singles matches played to clinch the victory.
“UAB came out ready to play today and they played well,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “But I’m proud of our guys for how they regrouped, especially in a double-header, to come back and win.”
Billy Mertz got the ball rolling for Alabama in singles. Mertz defeated Johannes Spangenberg for his third straight victory and pulled Alabama even in the dual-match. Sammy Struyf and Joseph Jung each answered with wins of their own before Dan Buikema claimed a season-high fifth consecutive win to clinch the Tide’s 12th win of the season.
“We have become a much more balanced team,” Pate said. “It has shown in recent matches and it showed again tonight.”
Alabama’s four wins came from its bottom three positions and Jung at No. 1. All four of the wins were decisive. In Alabama’s last five matches, it has posted a 13-2 record at No. 3 through No. 6.
In the day’s opener against Samford, Alabama rolled early and often. Mertz and Bes won for the Tide at No. 1 doubles, earning their 12th win in 14 matches together this season. Alabama’s other two doubles teams then each won 9-8 decisions to help sweep doubles.
In singles, Alabama won four matches in straight sets, including Taylor Striplin’s impressive performance at No. 6 where he won 6-1, 6-2. Andrew Felsenthal won the only match that stretched into a third set. He pulled out an 8-6 win in the tiebreak.
At No. 2 singles, Mathieu Thibaudeau won the opening set from Samford’s Stuart Misner, 7-6. However, the dual-match outcome had already been decided and both coaches agreed to suspend the match.
Alabama has just one regular-season match remaining. The Tide will look to win its 10th consecutive match against in-state foes when it hosts Auburn Saturday at 5 p.m. at the UA Tennis Complex. All fans to enter the complex prior to the start of the match will be eligible for a drawing to win autographed balls by Mark Gottfried and Mike Shula.
Alabama 6, Samford 0
Doubles
Billy Mertz/Javier Bes (UA) d. Jason Thomas/Bradley Weaver, (SU) 8-3
Sammy Struyf/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) d. Stuart Misner/Hank Grant (SU), 9-8
Dan Buikema/Taylor Striplin (UA) d. James Bryce/Johnny Griffee (SU), 9-8
Singles
Joseph Jung (UA) d. Hank Grant (SU), 6-4, 6-2
Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) vs. Stuart Misner (SU), 7-6, dnf
Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Bradley Weaver (SU), 6-3, 6-3
Dan Buikema (UA) James Bryce (SU), 6-3, 6-2
Andrew Felsnthal (UA) d. Johnny Griffee (SU), 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (8)
Taylor Striplin (UA) d. Jason Thomas (SU), 6-1, 6-2
Alabama 4, UAB 3
Doubles
Anton Mavrin/Johannes Spangenberg (UAB) d. Joseph Jung/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA), 8-6
Sebastian Falk/Andre Maier (UAB) d. Javier Bes/Billy Mertz (UA), 8-5
Kristijan Mitrovski/Thomas Weiss (UAB) d. Dan Buikema/Andrew Felsenthal(UA), 8-5
Singles
Joseph Jung (UA) d. Anton Mavrin (UAB), 6-2, 6-4
Sebastian Falk (UAB) d. Javier Bes (UA), 6-2, 6-2
Kristija Mitrovski (UAB) d. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA), 6-3, 6-3
Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Andre Maier (UAB), 6-2, 6-2
Billy Mertz (UA) d. Johannes Spangenberg (UAB), 6-4, 6-0
Dan Buikema (UA) d. Kruno Despotovski (UAB), 6-4, 6-2
