Alabama Men?s Tennis Beats Columbia, 7-0
2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
NEW YORK, N.Y.- The No. 27 Alabama men's tennis team shuts-out Columbia today, 7-0, at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center in New York City, earning their second road victory of the weekend. With the win, Alabama improves to 7-1 on the season.
"I am very pleased with our results on this road trip," said head coach Billy Pate. "We talked about this being a tough trip and one that would make us better if we got through it. We dug a little deeper today against a very good Columbia team and that led to a more complete effort. For the second day in a row Dan (Buikema) and Mat (Thibaudeau) really demonstrated great mental resolve in clinching the doubles point in a tie-breaker. We're very happy to be 7-1 heading into the SEC but must prepare ourselves accordingly for another tough trip to Vanderbilt and Kentucky next weekend."
Billy Mertz and Javier Bes earned the first doubles victory for the Tide, defeating Jonathan Wong and Mark Clemente, 8-4, winning their seventh consecutive match of the year.
No. 35 Dan Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau outlasted Columbia's Marty Moore and Paul Ratchford, 9-8 (6), to secure the doubles point for the Tide, clinching their second consecutive match of the weekend, while Alabama's Joseph Jung and Saketh Myneni fell to Jared Druker and Justin Chow, 8-2.
In singles, the Tide cruised to a victory, winning all six matches, three of which were won in straight sets.
Thibaudeau picked up the first singles win, beating Racthford, 7-6, 6-2, at the No. 5 slot, while Sammy Sturyf defeated Drucker, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 2.
Jung clinched the match for Alabama in a two-set victory over Clemente, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 1 spot. Buikema earned the fourth singles victory at No. 6, with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Chow.
Mertz and Bes finished the match by defeating their opponents in three sets. Bes beat Wong, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 at No. 4, while Mertz defeated Moore, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 at No. 3.
The Tide heads on another tough road trip next weekend, heading to Vanderbilt Friday, Mar. 2 and Kentucky Sunday, Mar. 4 to mark the beginning of the conference schedule.
-UA-
Results:
Doubles
1. No. 35 Dan Buikema/Mat Thibaudeau (UA) def. Marty Moore/Paul Ratchford (CU) 9-8 (6)
2. Jared Drucker/Justin Chow (CU) def. Joseph Jung/SakethMyneni (UA) 8-2
3. Billy Mertz/Javier Bes (UA) def. Jonathan Wong/Mark Clemente (CU) 8-4
Order of finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. No. 56 Joseph Jung (UA) def. Mark Clemente (CU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Sammy Struyf (UA) def. Jared Drucker (CU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Billy Mertz (UA) def. Marty Moore (CU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
4. Javier Bes (UA) def. Jonathan Wong (CU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
5. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Paul Racthford (CU) 7-6, 6-2
6. Dan Buikema (UA) def. Justin Chow (CU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 5,2,1,6,4,3
