Alabama
Day 3
Men's Tennis Wins Four Finals at Fall Championships
10/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 26, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The men's tennis team finished strong capturing two singles finals and both of the doubles finals at its Crimson Tide Fall Championships Sunday. Mathieu Thibaudeau won the Bear Bryant singles final, while Ricky Doverspike took home the win in the Ken Stabler final. In doubles, Thibaudeau and Doverspike teamed together to win the red doubles draw, and Michael Jung and Trey Walston picked up another final for the Tide in the white doubles draw.
"I thought we distinguished ourselves this weekend with several good performances," said head coach Billy Pate. "Each of the guys that played experienced success and got to play a good amount of tennis. Mathieu did an outstanding job in winning both the top singles and doubles flight. The more he played the better he looked and really peaked on Sunday for the finals. Ricky also picked up his level by winning both of his flights and really continues to improve in doubles."
The last day of play at the Crimson Tide Fall Classic opened with the semifinal round of doubles where Alabama picked up three wins in three opportunities. First off the court was Doverspike and Thibaudeau who advanced past Adam Baker and Alex Zotov of Vanderbilt 8-5 in the red draw. In the white draw, Jung and Walston roped in the semifinals win against the Mississippi State duo of Chris Doerr and Tanner Stump 8-6. Andrew Felsenthal and John Lewis teamed up for a consolation doubles match where the pair won a close 9-7 match against Strate Krstevski and Markus Wessingage of Georgia State.
Following the first set of doubles matches, the Tide took the courts for singles finals. In the Bear Bryant Draw, Thibaudeau earned the 6-4, 6-1 win over South Florida's Lucas Jovita, while Billy Mertz won the consolation final in the same draw over Illinois' Waylon Chin 6-3, 6-4. Doverspike also won by a score of 6-3, 6-4 in the Ken Stabler draw over Vanderbilt's Alex Divalerio. In the finals of the Joe Namath draw, Michael Jung lost a three-setter to the Commodores' Alex Zotov 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Creighton Blanchard picked up a singles win in a consolation draw 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (6) over Troy's Phil Janz.
To close out the afternoon, Doverspike and Thibaudeau and Jung and Walston rallied together one more time to win both the red and white doubles draws. Doverspike and Thibaudeau easily downed Thomas Estrada and Alex Zotov of South Florida 8-1, and Jung and Walston captured finals honors with an 8-3 victory over Jacksonville's Mathew Rock and Victor Vaz.
"Everyone had a positive tournament, and it will carry over to our last event next weekend at Florida State and individual workouts through the end of the semester as we prepare for the spring season," added Pate.
The Tide closes out its fall schedule next weekend when it travels to Tallahassee, Fla. to take part in the Seminole Fall Invitational. Match play begins on Nov. 1 and concludes on Nov. 3.
RESULTS
Doubles
Ricky Doverspike/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Adam Baker/Alex Zotov (VU) 8-5
Ricky Doverspike/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Thomas Estrada/Lucas Jovita (USF) 8-1
Michael Jung/Trey Walston (UA) def. Chris Doerr/Tanner Stump (MSU) 8-6
Michael Jung/Trey Walston (UA) def. Mathew Rock/Victor Vaz (JU) 8-3
Andrew Felsenthal/Michael Lewis (UA) def. Strate Krstevski/Markus Wessingage (GSU) 9-7
Singles
Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Lucas Jovita (USF) 6-4, 6-1
Billy Mertz (UA) def. Waylon Chin (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
Alex Zotov (VU) def. Michael Jung (UA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Ricky Doverspike (UA) def. Alex Divalerio (VU) 6-3, 6-4
Creighton Blanchard (UA) def. Phil Janz (TROY) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (6)
Players Mentioned
