MOBILE, Ala. ? The 72nd-ranked University of South Alabama men’s tennis team defeated in-state opponent UAB 5-2 Sunday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

“Our priority today was getting the doubles point,” head coach Nicolas Brochu said, “and that’s what we did. Getting the doubles point early is key, once you have a cushion you can relax.”

The Jaguars (2-5) quickly secured the double point with wins at the No.1 and No. 2 positions.  The USA duo of Sergio Ramirez and Romain Bocaert defeated the Blazers’ Tyrone Ewels and Slawomir Szeremeta 8-2 and South Alabama’s Leo Dominguez/Marek Sramek clinched the doubles point when they beat Brian Ly/Daniel Moser 8-6 on the No. 2 court.

In singles action the Jags went down early, losing the first two matches on the No. 4 and No. 5 courts, but South Alabama came back to win the last four matches. USA’s Sramek clinched the victory in straight sets at the No. 2 position defeating UAB’s Ly, 7-6, 6-2.

South Alabama’s Bocaert (No. 3) and Dauw Kruger (No. 6) also defeated their Blazer counterparts.

USA’s 66th-ranked Ramirez held on to his undefeated status in singles play by beating Slawomir Szeremeta 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 at the No.1 position.

Next on the schedule for the Jaguars is the University of Southern Mississippi Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251)461-1USA(1872). 

Tennis Match Results

University of Alabama-Birmingham vs University of South Alabama

Feb 22, 2009 at Mobile, Ala.

#72 University of South Alabama 5, University of Alabama-Birmingham 2

 Singles competition

1. #66 Sergio Ramirez (USAM) def. Slawomir Szeremeta (UAB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

2. Marek Sramek (USAM) def. Brian Ly (UAB) 7-6, 6-2

3. Romain Bocaert (USAM) def. Thomas Petrich (UAB) 6-3, 6-3

4. Dennis Ehrlich (UAB) def. Hanno Bartsch (USAM) 6-4, 6-2

5. Daniel Moser (UAB) def. Leo Dominguez (USAM) 6-3, 6-4

6. Dauw Kruger (USAM) def. Alex Emery (UAB) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

 Doubles competition

1. Sergio Ramirez/Romain Bocaert (USAM) def. Tyrone Ewels/Slawomir Szeremeta (UAB) 8-2

2. Marek Sramek/Leo Dominguez (USAM) def. Brian Ly/Daniel Moser (UAB) 8-6

3. Hanno Bartsch/Dauw Kruger (USAM) def. Alex Emery/Dennis Ehrlich (UAB) 8-3

Match Notes:

University of Alabama-Birmingham 1-4

University of South Alabama 3-5; National ranking #72

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,4,6,3,2,1)

 --USA--