Alabama
LSU
Tide Topped by LSU, 5-0
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 9, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The men's tennis team fell 5-0 to 25th-ranked LSU on Friday in the Crimson Tide's first Southeastern Conference home match of the season. With the loss, Alabama dips to 5-7 overall and 0-3 against SEC opponents, while the Tigers improve to 8-3 on the season and 2-1 versus league competition.
LSU edged Alabama in the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. The Tigers' 39th-ranked duo on court two of senior Neal Skupski and sophomore James Turbervill posted an 8-3 win over Tide senior Vikram Reddy and sophomore Carlos Taborga. On court one, Alabama senior Ricky Doverspike and junior Jarryd Botha collected an 8-5 victory over LSU's 38th-ranked pair of junior Olivier Borsos and freshman Chris Simpson. The Tide's No.1 duo broke for the 4-2 edge, but the Tigers would break back in the next game. Alabama led 6-3 before LSU claimed two straight games, setting the score at 6-5. The Tide would earn another huge break and then serve out for the win to even doubles at one all.
The matchup on court three would stay on serve throughout eventually playing into a tiebreaker. Alabama senior Michael Thompson and freshman David Vieyra held the early lead, but LSU juniors Roger Anderson and Stefan Szacinski came back to take the match 9-8(7).
"Losing the doubles point, particularly after having double match point, really impacted our momentum early, but I felt David and Michael played very well at No. 3 putting us in position to win there" said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. "LSU came up with some remarkable plays to stay in it and then take the tiebreaker."
In singles, the Tigers claimed four straight matches to earn the overall team victory. Szacinski's win on court four over Reddy by a score of 6-3, 6-2 put the Tigers on top 2-0. Skupski, despite a solid effort from Botha in the second set, would post a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory on court two for LSU's third point of the match. The Tigers had match point on courts five and six, but it would be Turbervill clinching the win on court five with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Vieyra. Seconds later, LSU senior Tom Knights would outlast Taborga, 6-3, 7-5, on court six.
The remaining two matches on court were left unfinished as Doverspike and No. 66 Borsos were in the midst of a third set on court one as was Tide sophomore Daniil Proskura, ranked No. 115, and Simpson on court three.
"Daniil was up a set and 5-3 with match point, so if we had the doubles point, and he finishes, that would have put us up 2-0," added Pate. "After that, I think it took us a while to recover, and we simply are playing too streaky. There are flashes of good play from us, but the inconsistency is holding us back from winning these matches. However, the players know they're close, and we expect a strong turnaround for Arkansas on Sunday."
Next up, Alabama will host Arkansas on Sunday. First serve is slated for Noon CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Botha/Doverspike (UA) def. No. 38 Borsos/Simpson (LSU) 8-5
2. No. 39 Skupski/Turbervill (LSU) def. Reddy/Taborga (UA) 8-3
3. Anderson/Szacinski (LSU) def. Vieyra/Thompson (UA) 9-8(7)
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
Singles
1. No. 66 Olivier Borsos (LSU) vs. Ricky Doverspike (UA) 6-4, 2-6, 2-1, unf.
2. Neal Skupski (LSU) def. Jarryd Botha (UA) 6-3, 7-6(3)
3. No. 115 Daniil Proskura (UA) vs. Chris Simpson (LSU) 6-3, 6-7(6), 1-1, unf.
4. Stefan Szacinski (LSU) def. Vikram Reddy (UA) 6-3, 6-2
5. James Turbervill (LSU) def. David Vieyra (UA) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
6. Tom Knights (LSU) def. Carlos Taborga (UA) 6-3, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4,2,5*,6
Players Mentioned
