Alabama
Georgia
Men's Tennis Drops 7-0 Decision at Georgia
3/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 6, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. - The 29th-ranked men's tennis team fell 7-0 on Sunday to No. 13 Georgia at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The loss drops the Crimson Tide to 7-4 overall and 0-2 versus Southeastern Conference opponents, while the win brings the Bulldogs to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in league matches.
"I was pleased with the improved energy we demonstrated in doubled, but I was not particularly happy with our singles today," Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. "Like Tennessee, Georgia is a very deep and talented team, and when you get chances, you must seize them. We just did not get it done."
Georgia got in front to start the match after winning the doubles point sweeping the three courts. The Bulldogs posted a pair of 8-5 decisions on courts two and three to secure the early point. Georgia senior Drake Bernstein and junior Wil Spencer, ranked 79th in the nation, were first to finish, topping Alabama senior Trey Walston and freshman Daniil Proskura. On court two, 36th-ranked Sadio Doumbia and Ignacio Taboada, both juniors, beat Tide juniors Vikram Reddy and Michael Thompson, the nation's 62nd-ranked pair. The matchup on court one went down to the wire, but it would be Georgia senior Javier Garrapiz and freshman Hernus Pieters, ranked sixth, edging Alabama junior Ricky Doverspike and sophomore Jarryd Botha, 9-7.
In singles play, Georgia clinched the win with victories on courts six, two and one. Taboada gave the Bulldogs their second point of the afternoon with a 6-0, 6-2 win at the No. 6 position, which was followed by a 6-2, 6-3 win for 15th-ranked Spencer over Botha on court two. No. 24 Garrapiz handed Georgia its fourth point of the match, for the overall team win, with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Doverspike.
Next to finish was the matchup on court three where No. 37 Doumbia topped Reddy 6-2, 6-2. On court four, the Tide's Proskura was up 5-4 on Bernstein in the second set, but the Bulldog netter would win the final three games to take the match 6-3, 7-5. Court five split sets with Thompson taking the first 6-3 and Pieters winning the second 6-1. Thompson retired before a third set began, therefore the final point would go to Georgia.
Next up, Alabama returns home for a pair of matches against SEC Eastern Division foes in No. 11 Florida and South Carolina. The Tide and Gators will meet on Friday, March 11 at 2 p.m. CT, while Sunday's match against the Gamecocks is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT.
"There were some bright spots, but we need to be better if we aspire to beat Georgia," Pate added. "They are much better than their ranking, in my opinion, and they're very tough at home. We knew going in this would be a challenging opening weekend, so we'll put it behind us and get ready to host next weekend."
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 6 Garrapiz/Pieters (UGA) def. Doverspike/Botha (UA) 9-7
2. No. 36 Doumbia/Taboada (UGA) def. No. 62 Reddy/Thompson (UA) 8-5
3. No. 79 Spencer/Bernstein (UGA) def. Proskura/Walston (UA) 8-5
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
Singles
1. No. 24 Javier Garrapiz (UGA) def. Ricky Doverspike (UA) 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 15 Wil Spencer (UGA) def. Jarryd Botha (UA) 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 37 Sadio Doumbia (UGA) def. Vikram Reddy (UA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Drake Bernstein (UGA) def. Daniil Proskura (UA) 6-3, 7-5
5. Hernus Pieters (UGA) def. Michael Thompson (UA) 3-6, 6-1, ret.
6. Ignacio Taboada (UGA) def. Carlos Taborga (UA) 6-0, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6,2,1*,3,4,5
Players Mentioned
