USA vs. Denver box score


DENVER, Colo. – The University of South Alabama men’s tennis team fell to Sun Belt Conference foe Denver 4-3 Friday at the Gates Tennis Center Friday.

The Jags fell to 6-8 in their spring campaign while the 73rd-ranked Pioneers improved to 8-12.

“It was hard to play in the wind and high altitude,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “You have to find a way to win anyway.  Both teams were struggling, but we made more mistakes than DU towards the end and it cost us the match.

“Today was extremely disappointing,” said Brochu. “We were in great position to win this match. It is extremely frustrating when you are in position to beat the best team in the conference and then you give it away.”

The Jaguars took the early lead with victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to clinch the point. Junior Hanno Bartsch (Pretoria, South Africa) and sophomore Alexandre Bernard (Soisy Sur Seine, France) defeated Yannick Weihs and Alex Clinkenbeard 9-7 in the No. 2 flight while senior Lucas Viel (Boussy-Saint-Antoine, France) and junior Dauw Kruger (Pretoria, South Africa) topped Angel Alvarez and Varun Gunaseelan 8-3 in the No. 3 position

Denver took the first point in singles play on the No. 3 court tying the match at 1-1.  Kruger gave USA the 2-1 lead blanking Gunaseelan at No. 5 singles 6-0, 6-0.

DU tied the score once again with Jens Vorkefeld’s 6-3, 6-3 victory over Bernard in the No. 2 flight. Bartsch responded with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Clinkenbeard in the No. 4 spot.

Denver picked up wins at No. 6 and No. 1 singles to clinch the match. Alvarez beat freshman Parker Allen (Hot Springs, Ark.) 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-1 at No. 6.

The match came down to a battle between Weihs and Bocaert on the No. 1 court. After dropping the first set 7-6 (7-2), Bocaert won the second set 7-6 (8-6), but lost the third set 6-4 giving the Pioneers the point and the match.

“We have two weeks to fix that before the conference tournament,” said Brochu. “If we want to win the tournament, and we definitively have the talent to win it, we will have to beat Denver.  We will see those guys again.  We need to get ready.  The only positive thing in today's match is that we almost beat the best team in the conference.”

The Jags are slated to do battle with Central Florida Saturday at noon at the Gates tennis center in Denver.

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).

-USA-