Men?s Tennis Downs No. 56 Indiana 6-1
2/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The 20th ranked Alabama men's tennis team improved to 8-3 on the season today by defeating the 56th ranked Indiana Hoosiers, 6-1, at the UA Varsity Courts.
"It was a solid win today against an Indiana team that is very good and will have a successful season," said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. "We competed well and handled being outside again without too much difficulty."
The Tide dominated Indiana in doubles, winning at all three positions. Seniors Javier Bes and Sammy Struyf earned the first win of the day with an 8-3 record over Mike McCarthy and Santiago Gruter at the No. 3 slot. At No. 1, the Tide's Daniel Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau clinched the point with an 8-3 victory over Thomas Richter and Lachlan Ferguson.
Sophomore Saketh Myneni and junior Michael Jung pulled out the final win at No. 2 over Phillip Eilers and Dara McLoughlin, 8-5.
Buikema added the first Tide singles victory of the day. Playing up one spot in the lineup from last week, he defeated Indiana's Ferguson 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 4 position. With the win, Buikema improves to a perfect 6-0 in dual matches.
Struyf extended the Alabama lead to 3-0 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over McLaughlin at the No. 3 spot. Struyf overcame a 5-1 deficit in the first set to secure the point.
Bes clinched the match for the Tide at the No. 6 position. He defeated Gruter 6-3, 6-3. This is the second match Bes has clinched for the Tide this season.
Thibaudeau added the fifth Alabama point with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 win over Eilers from the No. 2 slot. Jung added the final Tide win of the day from the No. 5 position. He beat McCarthy 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 to end the match.
"Now we must prepare for a new part of the season with conference play starting on Friday," said Pate. "That's always exciting and challenging but we'll need to be ready for LSU and Arkansas this weekend."
Alabama returns to action at home next weekend to begin the conference season. The Tide hosts LSU and Arkansas to kick off SEC play. For more information on Alabama men's tennis, visit www.rolltide.com.
#20 Alabama 6, #56 Indiana 1
UA Varsity Courts
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Singles
1. Thomas Richter (IU) d. Saketh Myneni (UA) 4-6, 7-6(3), 10-8
2. Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. Phillip Eilers (IU) 6-1, 6-7, 6-2
3. Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Dara McLaughling (IU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Daniel Buikema (UA) d. Lachlan Ferguson (IU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Michael Jung (UA) d. Mike McCarthy (IU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-7
6. Javier Bes (UA) d. Santiago Gruter (IU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: 4,3,6*,1,2,5
Doubles
1. #37 Buikema/Thibaudeau (UA) d. Richter/Ferguson (IU) 8-3
2. Myneni/Jung (UA) d. Eilers/McLoughlin (IU) 8-5
3. Bes/Struyf (UA) d. McCarthy/Gruter (IU) 8-3
Order of finish:3,1,2
