02/26/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAGUAR TENNIS DROPS HEARTBREAKER TO NO. 22 CLEMSON, 4-3, BLANKS WICHITA STATE, 7-0
Contact: Kit Strief
Clemson Box Score
Wichita State Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. - The South Alabama men's tennis team's upset bid over #22 Clemson came up short on Sunday at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Courts, falling 4-3 to the Tigers in a match that was postponed from yesterday due to heavy rain. The Jaguars rebounded nicely with a 7-0 victory over Wichita State.
"We came up against a very good Clemson team today," Jaguar head coach Scott Novak said. "It is a heartbreaker to lose becuase we couldn't have played much better. It is a fun match for our guys to play as both teams played at a high level adn you couldn't ask for more in a collegiate tennis match."
Clemson took the doubles point to open the match as it won two of the three doubles matches at the no. 1 and 2 positions. USA's Sam Huffman and Filip Kricka defeated Ryan Young and Paul Koenke in a close 9-8 match with a 9-7 tiebreaker.
The Jaguars evened the match at one as Jack Baker defeated Jarmaine Jenkins, 6-2, 6-0 at the no. 3 position which was the first singles match completed. Young posted a 6-3, 6-2 decision over USA's Robert Hodel at the no. 4 position as the Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the team score.
USA wouldn't go away as R.J. Nagel won at no. 6 over Brett Twente, 6-3, 6-4 to even the match at two a piece. The Jags then took a 3-2 lead as Marek Sramek defeated Clint Boling at the no. 5 position, 6-4, 6-4.
The match came down to the top two positions as USA had chances to win each one and were unable to get the job done. Clement Reix defeated Monte Tucker at no. 2 in a classic three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to even the team score at three.
Clemson's Sander Koening pulled out another three set match over Dias Doskarayev to win the team match, 4-3. Koening won the first set 6-2, but Doskarayev won the second set 7-6 and an 8-4 tiebreak to force the final set. Koening ended up with a 6-4 win.
The Jaguars rebounded nicely with a 7-0 win over Wichita State in the nightcap of the fourth doubleheader for the Jaguars this season. The teams decided to play singles first as USA won in straight sets in each of the six matches.
"I am happy with the way our guys bounced back against a good Wichita State team," Novak said. "The guys are showing they have a lot of talent and toughness." |
