MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's tennis got back in the win column Thursday with a dominant, 4-0 victory over UNC Wilmington at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Courts.
The victory brought the Jaguars back to .500 on the season with an even 3-3 overall record.
"Big win. We had a very big battle with them last year in Wilmington, and we knew they were coming for us here," said head coach Nick Brochu. "We knew what type of players they had at different positions, and our guys responded so well."
South started the day strong by winning the doubles point courtesy of Rostislav Halfinger and Theo Mottier, and the team of
Juan Accossatto and
Javier Montoya. Halfinger and Mottier clinched a 6-3 victory while Accossatto and Montoya beat their Seahawk opponents, 6-4.
Jack Clements and
Braden Hannig were tied 4-4 once the Jags clinched the doubles point, and their match was abandoned.
"We knew the doubles point was going to be so big, and we responded well," Brochu added. "At number one we were very aggressive, number two we got the break early then served well to close the match. Same thing on number three. I feel that in doubles, we're gelling so well. I'm very proud of the guys."
With the doubles point under its belt, South went into singles play needing three points to secure the team win. Clements, Accossatto and Harold van Raemdonck secured those three points for the Jags, all winning in straight sets. van Raemdonck finished his match first with a 6-4, 6-3 decision, and was followed by Clements who won 6-3, 6-2. Accossatto finished the job for USA in one of the tightest matches of the day when he won 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). Montoya, Halfinger and Hannig all abandoned their respective matches once the win was in hand for the Jaguars.
"I think what was very impressive today is that we were winning on four courts, but on the courts we were losing, we came back," Brochu said of USA's singles efforts. "I think that calmed everybody down, because we felt like we could have won on all six courts. UNC Wilmington is a tough team, they are good. We just took them down even though everybody was in a dog fight, and I'm very proud of the guys."
South Alabama will remain home for its next match when Florida Atlantic comes to town on Saturday, Feb. 10. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. CT.
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