TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ? The University of South Alabama men’s tennis team was 0-6 lifetime against the University of Alabama, until the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament as the Jags knocked off the 21st ranked Crimson Tide 4-3, Saturday. With the win, South Alabama will now face the host Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the tournament at 10 a.m., Sunday.
“The way it went was great and we started off strong in doubles and everybody fought all day,” head coach Nick Brochu said. “Alabama is always known as the best tennis team in the state and I think we set that straight today.”
The Jaguars got on the board first, winning at the number one and two double positions. Jack Baker and R.J. Nagel upset the 19th ranked duo of Mathieu Thibaudeau and Daniel Buikema, 8-5, while Robert Hodel and Marek Sramek then knocked off Saketh Myneni and Andrew Felsenthal in a close match, 9-7. Bama picked up its only win in doubles as Sammy Struyf and Javier Bes beat Michael O’Brien and Aaron Krisan, 8-3.
“Alabama’s strengths was in doubles and I told the guys that if we won in doubles the pressure would be on them,” Brocu added. “We served well and played very aggressive at the net and played every point importantly.”
The Crimson Tide fought back quick and early in singles play as they won in straight sets on the number five and six courts in two of the first three matches. The Jaguars picked up their second point though as Nagel knocked of Buikema, 6-4, 6-3. 34th ranked Baker then proved victorious when he beat Myneni, 6-4, 6-3. After Hodel fell in three sets on court two, the match came down to the final court as 107th ranked Sramek fought back from an opening set loss to defeat Struyf, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
“Jack and R.J. played great tennis today and set the pace in singles and doubles for the whole team,” Brochu noted. “We put the pressure on Alabama early and it worked. Marek’s opponents was under a lot of pressure and we let him make the mistakes and Marek just played great tennis.”
The Jaguars now face a 14th ranked Seminoles team that they lost to earlier in the year 6-1 in Tallahassee.
“We are much better team right now and even though we lost 6-1 we were very competitive and there were a lot of third sets,” Brochu said. “I think with the win we put all the pressure on FSU and tomorrow we need to come out and play our game.”
The second round of the NCAA Tennis Tournament at the Scott Speicher Center will continue with USA playing 14th ranked Florida State at 10 a.m., Sunday. Tournament results can be accessed at usajaguars.com and live stats are available at http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/m-tennis-08-ncaa-tournament.html.
No. 60 South Alabama 4, No. 21 Alabama 3
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
Jack Baker and R.J. Nagel def. Mathieu Thibaudeau and Daniel Buikema, 8-5
Robert Hodel and Marek Sramek def. Saketh Myneni and Andrew Felsenthal, 9-7
Sammy Struyf and Javier Bes def. Michael O’Brien and Aaron Krisan, 8-3
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 5, 4, 2, 3
#34 Jack Baker def. #88 Saekth Myneni, 6-3, 6-4
#99 Mathieu Thibaudeau def. Robert Hodel, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
#107 Marek Sramek def. Sammy Struyf, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
R.J. Nagel def. Daniel Buikema, 6-3, 6-4
Javier Bes def. Aaron Krisan, 6-3, 6-2
Michael Jung def. Michael O’ Brien, 6-0, 6-0
