No. 33 Alabama Falls to No. 5 Virginia
2/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The No. 33 University of Alabama men's tennis team fell to No. 5 Virginia, 4-3, Sunday at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.
The Tide jumped out to a fast start, earning the doubles point but it wasn't enough to hold off the Cavaliers who collected four of the first six singles points for the win. Virginia was 4-0 coming into the match and 3-0 against ranked opponents. Junior Ted Angelinos clinched the match for the Cavaliers with a victory over Javier Bes in singles 7-6 (1), 6-0.
"Virginia is very good in doubles and for us to come out and win the doubles point gave us a lot of momentum," stated head coach Billy Pate. "Coming out for singles we didn't capitalize on that momentum and Virginia had a lot to do with that. The top of their lineup is among the best in the country. Overall, I thought we competed very well and I'm proud of where we are headed."
Alabama duo Mathieu Thibaudeau and Dan Buikema clinched the doubles point for the Tide, upsetting No. 7 Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey of Virginia. After trailing most of the match, the Cavaliers battled back to force a tiebreaker but Thibaudeau and Buikema dominated at the end defeating their opponent, 9-8 (7-3). The Virginia duo is the third ranked team, second in the top 20, the Tide sophomores have beaten this year, improving their record to 13-3.
Juniors Javier Bes and Billy Mertz also earned a doubles win for the Tide, defeating Ted Angelinos and Lee Singer, 8-6, at the No. 3 position. Senior Joseph Jung and freshman Saketh Myneni fell to Dominic Inglot and Houston Barrick, 8-3, in the No. 2 slot.
In singles, Mertz and Buikema collected wins for the Tide. Mertz defeated Marko Miklo in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, while Buikema beat Lee Singer, 2-6, 6-3, 4-4(7).
Jung, Sammy Struyf and Thibaudeau fell to their opponents in straight sets. Virginia's No. 8 Devvarman defeated Jung, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1. No. 10 Treat Huey defeated Struyf, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2. Virginia's Dominic Inglot beat Thibaudeau, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.
The Tide hosts No. 72 Furman and Winthrop in a double-header Saturday, Feb. 10, with Furman at 9 a.m. and Winthrop following at 5 p.m.
--UA--
Results
Singles:
1. No. 8 Somdev Devvarman (UVa) def. No. 43 Joseph Jung (UA) 6-1, 6-1
2. No. 10 Treat Huey (UVa) def. Sammy Struyf (UA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Dominic Inglot (UVa) def. Mat Thibaudeau (UA) 6-3, 6-4
4. Ted Angelinos (UVa) def. Javier Bes (UA) 7-6 (1), 6-0
5. Billy Mertz (UA) def. Marko Miklo (UVa) 6-4, 6-2
6. Dan Buikema (UA) def. Lee Singer (UVa) 2-6, 6-3, 4-4 (7)
Order of finish: 1,2,3,4,5,6
Doubles:
1. Dan Buikema/Mat Thibaudeau (UA) def. Somdev Devvarman/Treat Huey (UVa) 9-8 (3)
2. Dominic Inglot/Houston Barrick (UVa) def. Joseph Jung/Saketh Myneni (UA) 8-3
3. Javier Bes/Billy Mertz (UA) def. Ted Angelinos/Lee Singer (UVa) 8-6
Order of finish: 2,3,1
