Alabama
Key Biscayne Invitational
Men's Tennis Wins Three at Key Biscayne Invitational
1/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 9, 2009
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - The men's tennis team kicked off its 2009 season with two singles wins and one doubles win against opponents from No. 16 Michigan and No. 58 Georgia Tech Friday at the Key Biscayne Invitational. Senior Michael Jung and freshman Michael Thompson notched the singles victories, while Jung and sophomore teammate Trey Walston earned the doubles win.
"It was our first day competing this semester, and it looked like it was our first day," said head coach Billy Pate. "We had some opportunities, but our execution wasn't where it needs to be. We're here to improve and get better, and I'm confident we'll do that tomorrow."
After dropping the first set 1-6, Jung fought back and won sets two and three against Michigan's Mike DePietro 6-2, 6-3. Thompson had an easy time with the Wolverines' George Navas winning 6-1, 6-2. Six other Crimson Tide players competed in singles on Friday including seniors Dan Buikema, Andrew Felsenthal and Billy Mertz, junior Saketh Myneni, freshman John Lewis and Walston. Buikema faced off with Michigan's Peter Aarts where the Wolverine senior won 6-3, 6-2. Felsenthal fell in a 6-2, 7-5 decision to Chris Madden, and Mertz lost a close 6-3, 7-6 match to Andrew Mazlin. Myneni took Michigan's Jason Jung to three sets, but Jung came out on top in the end 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. Lewis met up with Michael Sroczynski where the Alabama freshman was tripped up 6-4, 6-3. The Wolverines' Drew Daniel advanced past Walston 6-2, 6-3.
In doubles, the Tide duo of Jung and Walston defeated the Georgia Tech pair of Austin Robuck and Dusan Milijevic 8-4. Also representing Alabama in doubles was Buikema and Myneni, Felsenthal and Lewis and Mertz and Thompson. Buikema and Myneni lost 8-5, while Felsenthal and Lewis dropped an 8-3 decision to Georgia Tech's Guillermo Gomez and Eliot Potvin. Rounding out the Alabama doubles was Mertz and Thompson who slipped up against the Yellow Jackets' Kevin King and Doug Kenny 8-4.
The Tide continues play tomorrow at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park beginning with singles at 9:00 a.m. (EST). Alabama will also play a round of doubles later in the day. The Tide wraps up play Sunday with one round of singles.
RESULTS
Singles
Jason Jung (UM) def. Saketh Myneni (UA) 7-6, 4-6, 6-3
Andrew Mazlin (UM) def. Billy Mertz (UA) 6-3, 7-6
Michael Sroczynski (UM) def. John Lewis (UA) 6-4, 6-3
Peter Aarts (UA) def. Dan Buikema (UA) 6-3, 6-2
Michael Thompson (UA) def. George Navas (UM) 6-1, 6-2
Chris Madden (UM) def. Andrew Felsenthal (UA) 6-2, 7-5
Drew Daniel (UM) def. Trey Walston (UA) 6-2, 6-3
Michael Jung def. Mike DePietro (UM) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
Muguruza/Smith (GT) def. Buikema/Myneni (UA) 8-5
Gomez/Potvin (GT) def. Felsenthal/Lewis (UA) 8-3
King/Kenny (GT) def. Mertz/Thompson 8-4
Walston/Jung def. Robuck/Miljevic (GT) 8-4
