Myneni Clinches Win Over No. 18 LSU
2/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- Four Alabama men's tennis players earned singles victories today to push the 20th ranked Crimson Tide past No. 18 LSU, 5-2, in its conference opener today at the UA Varsity Courts.
"It is always satisfying to get a win in the first match but its especially so because LSU is a very strong team," said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. "This match could have gone either way. Saketh was clutch in getting the clinching win against a very tough opponent."
Alabama had the momentum to start the match. The Tide earned wins at all three doubles positions for a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.
Alabama's Saketh Myneni and Michael Jung picked up the first win at the No. 2 slot over James Cluskey and Michael Venus 8-4. Daniel Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau immediately earned the second win for the Tide from the top slot with an 8-4 victory over Colt Gaston and Juilen Gauthier.
Rounding out doubles play was Sammy Struyf and Javier Bes at the No. 3 position. The Tide tandem came from behind to defeat Kevin Dessauer and Jan Zelezny 8-7 in a tie-breaker.
In singles, LSU took the first point to tie the match at 1-1. The Tide's Struyf and Bes answered with wins at numbers three and five to push Alabama ahead 3-1. Struyf defeated Julien Gauthier 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Bes took Sebastian Carlsson in two sets, 6-4, 6-3.
The Tigers earned its final point of the match from the number five slot before the Tide's Myneni clinched the match with a win over Venus, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3, from top slot in the lineup.
"I think it is a great achievement to clinch against LSU in the SEC opener," said sophomore Myneni. "My goal was to play solid tennis throughout the whole match. I knew it was going to be tough but tried to stay strong both physically and mentally."
Thibaudeau earned the last point of the match at number two in the lineup. He led LSU's Zelezny 6-2, 6-7(4), 3-2 in the third set before Zelezny defaulted.
With the win Alabama improves to 9-3 overall and 1-0 in the SEC, while LSU falls to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.
"I'm not sure either team played their best but the gusty winds early in the match had a little to do with that," said Pate. "We felt the key to the match would be doubles. LSU has a tradition of great doubles so I was pleased to see us perform well. Now it is imperative we focus on the Arkansas match."
The Tide is back in action Sunday as it hosts Arkansas in its second and final match of the weekend. The match is slated to begin at noon at the UA Varsity Courts.
#20 Alabama 5, #18 LSU 2
UA Varsity Courts
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Singles
1. Saketh Myneni (UA) d. Michael Venus (LSU) 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3
2. Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. Jan Zelezny (LSU) 6-7, 6-4, 3-2 (def.)
3. Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Julien Gauthier (LSU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. James Cluskey (LSU) d. Daniel Buikema (UA) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9)
5. Javier Bes (UA) d. Sebastian Carlsson (LSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Kevin Dessauer (LSU) d. Michael Jung (UA) 6-3, 6-0
Order of finish: 6,2,5,1*,4,2
Doubles
1. Buikema/Thibaudeau (UA) d. Gaston/Gauthier (LSU) 8-4
2. Myneni/Jung (UA) d. Cluskey/Venus (LSU) 8-4
3. Struyf/Bes (UA) d. Dessauer/Zelezny (LSU) 8-7(2)
Order of finish: 2,1,3
-UA-
