Alabama Drops Road Match to Ole Miss

Friday, April 7

Oxford, Miss

3 P.M. CT

Alabama

Ole Miss

Alabama Drops Road Match to Ole Miss

4/7/2023 8:02:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

The Crimson Tide returns home on Sunday for its final home match of the season

OXFORD, Miss. –– The Alabama men's tennis team fell in a 4-3 battle to Ole Miss on Friday at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center. The match marked the sixth time in the last seven meetings that the two teams have fought to a 4-3 decision.

Enzo Aguiard and Zach Foster posted the first doubles win with a victory on court two. The next two doubles matches would go into a tiebreaker with Ole Miss taking a victory on court one; however, Alabama (9-14, 1-9 SEC) clinched the opening point with a 7-6 (7) win from Joao Ferreira and Matias Ponce De Leon on court three.

Ole Miss (15-6, 5-4 SEC) took the lead in singles with three straight wins on courts five, three and four, respectively. Aguiard posted UA's first singles win on court two before Filip Planinsek followed with a victory on court one to tie the score at 3-3. Zach Foster battled back for a 5-5 tie in the third set on court six, but Ole Miss would secure the win on the final court to clinch the match.

From Head Coach George Husack

"Another nail-biter against the Rebels. Passionate crowd, momentum swings, excitement, opportunity and agony of defeat. The guys must hold their heads high and keep their spirits up. It's competition and we've had a lot of tight ones this season. This speaks to our team's ability and areas where we, coaches and players, can all continue to improve. I'd also say it adds more wood to a large pile of logs that's ready to be lit and burn free. I believe in these guys and their continued development and growth."

The Match

Alabama captured the first win of the day with Enzo Aguiard and Zach Foster posting a 6-3 victory over Lukas Engelhardt and Isac Stromberg on court two
Ole Miss evened the attempt for the doubles point, taking a 7-6 (5) win on court one, however Joao Ferreira and Matias Ponce De Leon battle through a tiebreaker on court three to win the opening point of the match at 7-6 (7)
The Rebels recorded wins on courts five, three and four to move ahead 3-1 in the match
No. 116 ranked Aguiard fought his way through a three-set victory on court two, defeating John Hallquist Lithen 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
No. 76 Filip Planinsek followed shortly after with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No. 60 Nikola Slavic on court one to even the match at 3-3
Foster won the first set at 6-3, but fell in a tiebreaker in round two, 7-6 (3), to force a third round on court six
After trailing early in the set, the UA sophomore evened the final set at 5-5, however, Stromberg would clinch the final match off a 7-5 set score

Alabama returns home to host Auburn on Sunday
The match will be the Tide's last home contest of the 2023 season
First serve between the Tide and Tiger is set for 1 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium

Results

Doubles:

1 | #90 J. Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk (OM-M) def. #78 Filip Planinsek/German Samofalov (UA) 7-6 (7-5)
2 | Enzo Aguiard/Zach Foster (UA) def. Lukas Engelhardt/Isac Stromberg (OM-M) 6-3
3 | Joao Ferreira/Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. Nikola Slavic/Noah Schlagenhauf (OM-M) 7-6 (9-7)

Order of Finish (2,1,3)

Single:

1 | #76 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. #60 Nikola Slavic (OM-M) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
2 | #116 Enzo Aguiard (UA) def. J. Hallquist Lithen (OM-M) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
3 | Simon Junk (OM-M) def. Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) 6-4, 6-3
4 | Lukas Engelhardt (OM-M) def. German Samofalov (UA) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
5 | Noah Schlagenhauf (OM-M) def. Yair Sarouk (UA) 6-3, 6-4
6 | Isac Stromberg (OM-M) def. Zach Foster (UA) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5

Order of finish (5,3,4,2,1,6)

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