Alabama Downs Furman and Winthrop in Double-Header
2/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The No. 32 Alabama men's tennis team improved to 4-1 this weekend by defeating No. 73 Furman 7-0 and Winthrop 6-1 at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.
"We saw a lot of positives in our team today," stated head coach Billy Pate. "It is always good to get a few wins and gain our confidence back after a loss. We had a chance to work on a few things that we saw in the Virginia match that we needed to address and to sort out our lineup before we face Clemson next weekend."
Alabama showed two different singles lineups and five different doubles combinations over the course of the day, resulting in victory. Eight Alabama players posted straight-set victories, with the team winning six of the seven doubles matches and 13 of the 15 total matches.
The Tide coasted to their second consecutive victory against Furman and now leads the series 11-1.
In doubles, Billy Mertz and Javier Bes defeated Furman's Andy Juc and Scott Khaler, 8-6, winning their third consecutive contest, clinching the doubles point for The Tide. No. 44 Joseph Jung and Saketh Myneni also secured a win, cruising by Ryan Friend and Jordan Walters, 8-4.
Mathieu Thibaudeau and Dan Buikema suffered their first doubles loss of the dual match season to Furman's Bo Ladyman and Brian Cook, 8-6.
Mertz and Houssam Yassine cruised to singles victories for the Tide, defeating their opponents in straight sets. Mertz beat Furman's Daniel Knause, 6-2, 6-3 at the no. 3 slot, while Yassine beat Jordan Walters, 6-4, 6-0 at no. 4.
Sammy Struyf also contributed a win at the no. 2 slot, defeating Furman's Bo Ladyman, 6-4, 6-4, clinching the Alabama victory.
No. 43 Jung beat Furman's Andy Juc in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, at the no. 1 slot, while Thibaudeau and Myneni finished the match by defeating their opponents in straight sets as well. Thibaudeau beat Chris Gilli 7-5, 6-3, at no. 5 and Myneni defeated Michael Kocieki, 6-2, 6-1, in his first singles match of the season at the no. 6 slot.
Alabama showed two different doubles combinations to start the match against Winthrop that proved successful as the Tide earned three victories and the doubles point.
The Tide's Buikema and Thibaudeau earned their first win of the day, defeating Rodrigo Santos and Germano Knorr, 8-6 at no. 1, while Myneni paired up with Jordie Kindervater to defeat Winthrop's Jorge Padillo and Alejandro Portugal, 8-2. Bes and Struyf paired up for the first time this season to beat Bastian Moldehn and Arthur Takahashi of Winthrop, 8-2.
Bes cruised to an easy victory over Jorge Padillo of Winthrop, 6-2, 6-1, while Alabama's Mertz beat Bastian Moldehne, 6-3, 6-2 at the no. 2 slot, picking up his fifth consecutive win of the season.
Thibaudeau defeated Alejandro Portugal, 6-1, 6-2, to clinch the match, while Jung defeated Rodrigo Santos in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.
Junior Taylor Striplin captured his first win of the dual match season in straight sets against Winthrop's Thiago Barbosa, 6-4, 6-2, and freshman Yassine had to retire in the third set after splitting the first two sets, 6-2, 4-6, with Winthrop's Arthur Takahashi.
Alabama will return to action at home for the fourth consecutive weekend Friday, Feb. 16 against No. 24 Clemson at noon before heading to Princeton for their first road contest of the dual match season.
--UA--
Alabama v. Furman Results
Singles:
1. No. 43 Joseph Jung (UA) def. Andy Juc (Fur) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
2. Sammy Struyf (UA) def. Bo Ladyman (Fur) 6-4, 6-4
3. Billy Mertz (UA) def. Daniel Knause (Fur) 6-2, 6-3
4. Houssam Yassine (UA) def. Jordan Walters (Fur) 6-4, 6-0
5. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Chris Gilli (Fur) 7-5, 6-3
6. Saketh Myneni (UA) def. Michael Kociecki (Fur) 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish:4,3,2,1,6,5
Doubles:
1. Bo Ladyman/Brian Cook (Fur) def. Mat Thibaudeau/Dan Buikema (UA) 8-6
2. #44 Joseph Jung/Saketh Myneni (UA) def. Ryan Friend/Jordan Walters (Fur) 8-4
3. Javier Bes/Billy Mertz (UA) def. Andy Juc/Scott Khaler (Fur) 8-6
Order of finish: 2,1,3
Alabama v. Winthrop Results
Singles:
1. No. 43 Joseph Jung (UA) def. Rodrigo Santos (Win) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
2. Billy Mertz(UA) def. Bastian Moldehne (Win) 6-3, 6-2
3. Javier Bes (UA) def. Jorge Padillo (Win) 6-2, 6-1
4. Arthur Takahaski (Win) def. Houssam Yassine (UA) 6-2, 4-6, 4-4 (ret)
5. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Alejandro Portugal (Win) 6-1, 6-2
6. Taylor Striplin (UA) def. Thiago Barbosa (Win) 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 3,2,5,4,1,6
Doubles:
1. Dan Buikema/Mat Thibaudeau (UA) def. Rodrigo Santos/German Knorr (Win) 8-4
2. Saketh Myneni/Jordie Kindervater (UA) def. Jorge Padillo/Alejandro Portugal (Win) 8-4
3. Javier Bes/Sammy Struyf (UA) def. Bastian Moldehn/Arthur Takahashi (Win) 8-2
Order of finish: 3,2,1
