Tennis Completes First Weekend of Fall Competition
9/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Alabama doubles duo of Dan Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau took No. 53-ranked Colin O’Brien and Alexandru Cojanu to the wire Sunday in the Consolation Final at the UVa Fall Invitational before dropping a 9-8 decision.
Buikema and Thibaudeau nearly pulled the upset. The duo broke serve to go up 7-5 in the pro set and served for the match. However, O’Brien and Cojanu answered with a break of their own. Buikema and Thibaudeau then held two match points at 6-7, but failed to convert and lost in a tiebreaker.
The match concluded the team’s opening weekend and what Alabama head coach Billy Pate called a positive start to the season. Overall, Alabama players won matches in two separate tournaments.
"Everyone that played this weekend got some quality wins,” Pate said. “As with any tournament, I felt like we had some ups and some downs. However, it was a positive start to our season and we have a few things that, if we can correct, will allow us to be successful this year.”
“It is apparent we have some depth on this year's team,” Pate said, “but we'll be looking for some of our players to step up and demonstrate they are capable of playing high in our line-up when our dual matches start in the spring."
The Tide will get back in action next weekend at the Baylor Fall Invitational in Waco, Texas.
UVa Fall Invitational Consolation Final
Colin O'Brien/Alexandru Cojanu [53] (W&M) def. Dan Buikema/Mathieu Thibaudeau (Alabama), 9-8
Thomasville Collegiate Invitational
Victor Sanakai Papi (AUM) def. Javier Bes (Alabama), 4-6, 6-0, 10-7
