Alabama
South Carolina
All-Around Performance Helps No. 26 Alabama Knock Off No. 18 South Carolina, 4-2
4/7/2019 5:05:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Crimson Tide won its third match against a top-25 opponent with the victory on Sunday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Impressive play in doubles and three wins from the back of the singles lineup propelled No. 26 Alabama to a 4-2 win over No. 18 South Carolina at the Alabama Tennis Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Crimson Tide's (14-9, 4-7 SEC) victory on Sunday was the third win over a top-25 opponent after knocking off the 18th-ranked Gamecocks (15-7, 5-6 SEC). The victory also snapped a three-match losing streak for UA.
"Today was a full team effort," head coach George Husack said. "In doubles Sam Fischer stepped up big. In singles we clearly had some guys come up big for us. I even told Edson (Ortiz) that for him to force a close second set was big because it kept the pressure off the remaining matches. And then Jeremy (Gschwendtner) and Riccardo (Roberto) both were recovering from being sick earlier this week so for them to bounce-back after Friday was super for us today."
In doubles to begin the day, the No. 28 doubles duo in the country in senior Mazen Osama and sophomore Patrick Kaukovalta took care of business, against No. 72 Jubb/Lambling, 6-3. The doubles point was clinched on court three where sophomore Sam Fischer was matched up with junior Zhe Zhou for the first time this season. The pair downed Pelletier/Rodrigues, 6-3, to give Alabama the 1-0 advantage.
The Gamecocks had an answer in singles by winning easily on courts one and three to take the 2-1 lead. The Tide responded by getting a straight-set win from Zhou on court five, 6-1, 6-4, over Joseph Brailovsky to tie the match at 2-2. Sophomore Riccardo Roberto put UA back on top with his 6-2, 7-5, victory over Beau Pelletier on court four.
The match came down to courts two and six, with sophomore Jeremy Gschwendtner taking on Thomas Brown on court six. Gschwendtner won his first set easily before entering a second-set battle that went to a tiebreaker. In the tiebreak, the London, England native gutted out a 7-5 victory to clinch his match 6-2, 7-6(5) and seal the 4-2 win for the Tide.
Next up, Alabama will close out its regular season against No. 44 Arkansas on Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m. at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. Thursday's match will be Senior Night for Mazen Osama who will be honored before the match.
Alabama Results
Doubles
- No. 28 Osama/Kaukovalta def. No. 72 Jubb/Lambling, 6-3
- Roberto/Ortiz vs. Beasley/Brailovsky, 5-3, unf.
- Fischer/Zhou def. Pelletier/Rodrigues, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
- No. 6 Paul Jubb def. No. 48 Mazen Osama, 6-1, 6-1
- No. 113 Daniel Rodrigues vs. Edson Ortiz, 6-4, 5-6, unf.
- Raphael Lambling def. Patrick Kaukovalta, 6-1, 6-2
- Riccardo Roberto def. Beau Pelletier, 6-2, 7-5
- Zhe Zhou def. Joseph Brailovsky, 6-1, 6-4
- Jeremy Gschwendtner def. Thomas Brown, 6-2, 7-6(5)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 5, 4, 6
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Players Mentioned
