Alabama
TBD
Men's Tennis Completes First Day at SEC Indoors
1/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 14, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The men's tennis team played two doubles matches and a trio of singles matches on day one of the SEC Indoor Championships. The Crimson Tide dropped decision in each but gained valuable match experience against some of the best in the Southeastern Conference.
"It was not a great day result-wise, but we had good opportunities in several matches," Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. "We need match practice right now. We were pitted against very good players in both the singles and doubles draws, but this makes it easy to identify what we need to work on."
The Tide opened the day in doubles where both teams fell in the round of 32. Senior Trey Walston and freshman Carlos Taborga put up a hard-fought battle against Tennessee sophomore Ed Jones and freshman Jarryd Chaplin but came up just short falling 9-8 to the Volunteer duo. Sophomore Ian Chadwell and freshman Daniil Proskura took on Mississippi senior Tucker Vorster and sophomore Jonas Lutjen where the Rebel pair won 8-5.
In singles, Walston forced a third set against Georgia freshman Johnson Campbell, but was eventually topped 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 by the Bulldog. Proskura took on Mississippi State junior Artem Ilyushin, who played at No. 1-3 last season in dual matches, where the Tide newcomer fell 6-2, 6-1. Also competing in singles on Friday was Taborga, who dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to Mississippi freshman Johan Backstrom. Chadwell earned a first-round bye in singles.
"Daniil had some first-match jitters and needs to get some experience playing college matches," Pate added. "Tomorrow is a new day, however, and we look forward to getting back out there and playing more."
Match play will resume on Saturday with both consolation and main draw matches.
RESULTS
Doubles
Chaplin/Jones (UT) def. Taborga/Walston (UA) 9-8
Lutjen/Vorster (UM) def. Chadwell/Proskura (UA) 8-5
Singles
Johnson Campbell (UGA) def. Trey Walston (UA) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
Artem Ilyushin (MSU) def. Daniil Proskura (UA) 6-2, 6-1
Johan Backstrom (UM) def. Carlos Taborga (UA) 6-2, 6-4
