LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of South Alabama men’s tennis players Robert Hodel, R.J. Nagel and Aaron Krisan were each victorious in their opening round matches of the ITA Southeast Regional Thursday held at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on the University of Kentucky campus.
Nagel got things started in the singles competition when he picked up a three-set victory over Pjotrs Necajevs of Mississippi State in the opening round. Nagel captured the first set 6-4, but then dropped the second set 7-6, 7-4 in the tiebreaker. The Jag netter bounced back though and cruised in the third set, 6-2, to advance to the Round of 156 on Friday. Nagel will now take on Stetson’s Chris Swantenson on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Also capturing straight set victories in singles action on Thursday for South Alabama were Hodel and Krisan. Hodel was a 6-4, 6-3, winner over Kentucky’s Will Beck (6-4, 6-3), while Krisan defeated Yuri Pompeu (Murray State) 6-2, 6-2. With the win, Hodel advances to the Round of 156 to take on LSU’s Ian Zelezny at 9 a.m., while Krisan will take on Alabama’s Dan Buikeman at 8 a.m.
After receiving a bye through the first two rounds, USA’s Marek Sramek will begin his tournament play on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Round of 64. The opponent for the draw’s fifth seed is still to be determined.
The doubles portion of the tournament is scheduled to also get underway on Friday. USA will have two teams in action as the Jag duo of Nagel and Krisan will take on Vanderbilt’s team of Scott Lieberman and Alex Zotov at 8:30 p.m. South Alabama’s Sramek and Hodel will compete against UT-Chattanooga’s Badr Bouabdellah and Razvan Axente at 9 p.m.
Full tournament results can be accessed at www.ukathletics.com.
