MONTGOMERY, Ala. ? No. 16 South Alabama dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to No. 27 Boise State on Friday afternoon in the 2007 Blue-Grey National Classic. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 13-2 on the year and will play North Carolina State on Saturday at 4 p.m. in a consolation match.
The match opened with singles play as the Broncos won at the top two seeds in straight sets. No. 27 sophomore Marek Sramek got the Jags on the board with a come-from-behind win at No. 3 as he won 2-6, 7-6, 6-2. Junior Robert Hodel won at No. 4 and R.J. Nagel won at No. 5 for the Jaguars. Boise State got a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 over sophomore Craig Dunne to tie the match at three.
In doubles, the Broncos got wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to seal the victory. USA’s top duo of Hodel and Sramek were leading 6-5 when the match was decided.
Boise State will play No. 2 seed Alabama at 1:30 on Saturday for the right to play in the championship match on Sunday. In the other semifinal, top-seed Notre Dame will square off with Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane, unseeded, defeated 2006 champion Virginia Commonwealth in the quarterfinals on Friday.
North Carolina State (14-2) opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over William and Mary and dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 2 seed Alabama yesterday. The Wolfpack are ranked 33rd in the latest ITA poll.
Boise State 4, South Alabama 3
Singles
1. No. 14 Luke Shields d. No. 96 Dias Doskarayev, 7-5, 6-3
2. No. 64 Clancy Shields d. Jack Baker, 6-4, 6-4
3. No. 27 Marek Sramek d. Piotr Dilaj, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2
4. Robert Hodel d. Steve Robertson, 6-4, 6-3
5. R.J. Nagel d. Blake Boswell, 6-4, 6-1
6. Eric Roberson d. Craig Dunne, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. L. Shields/Dilaj and Hodel/Sramek, 5-6, DNF
2. C. Shields/Robertson d. Nagel/Doskarayev, 8-4
3. Boswell/Roberson d. Dunne/Baker, 8-3
