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SEC Tennis Season Begins

Posted: January 23, 2010 | Last updated: January 22, 2010 at 11:36 PM

SEC Tennis Results for Friday, January 22, 2010



Lady Vols Defeat Illinois


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 11 University of Tennessee women’s tennis team (1-0) opened dual-match play by defeating No. 33 Illinois (0-1), 4-3, Friday night in front of a near-capacity crowd of almost 500 people, at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee’s victory improves Patrick’s record in home openers to an amazing 22-1, while fellow head coach Sonia Hahn-Patrick’s record moves to 12-1.

The evening began with the Lady Vols sweeping the doubles portion of the contest. The Tennessee tandem of junior Rosalía Alda and senior Zsófia Zubor was first to finish off its opponent, claiming an 8-6 triumph over the Illinois’ Rachael White and Marisa Lambropolous.

The pairing of senior Caitlin Whoriskey and sophomore Natalie Pluskota followed shortly thereafter,  showing why it is No. 1 in the country with an 8-4 victory over Chelcia Abajian and Leigh Finnegan. Junior Maria Sorbello and sophomore Katie Lee needed a tiebreaker but closed out doubles play with an 8-7 (7-4) win against Kristina Minor and Megan Fudge.

Singles play started with the Fighting Illini taking the first singles point to tie up the match. Pluskota defaulted late in the first set to Abajian due to injury.  Zubor and opponent, Amy Allin took the court next, but it was Zubor who took over the match. The Hungary native dropped only two games en route to 6-1, 6-1 defeat.
Whoriskey, ranked No. 6 in the nation for singles, battled the Illini’s No. 33 freshman, White. Both sets were dominated by long rallies, multiple deuce points, and back-and-forth game wins. Whoriskey was able to close the first, 6-4, but needed a tiebreaker to claim the second set, 7-6 (7-5), and ultimately the match win. Sorbello was next to finish and with her win over Fudge, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, she secured the team victory for Tennessee.

UT’s remaining competitors fought hard but were unable to overcome the efforts of their Illinois opponents. Alda dropped a heartbreaker in three sets to Breanne Smutko, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, while Lee fell to Marisa Lambropoulos, 6-0, 6-3.

Match Results

Singles
1: No. 6 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT) def. No. 33 Rachael White (Illinois) – 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
2: No. 51 Maria Sorbello (UT) def. Megan Fudge (Illinois) – 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
3: Chelcia Abajian (Illinois) def. Natalie Pluskota (UT) – default
4: Breanne Smutko (Illinois) def. Rosalía Alda (UT) – 7-5, 6-3, 7-5
5: Zsófia Zubor (UT) def. Amy Allin (Illinois) – 6-1, 6-1
6: Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois) def. Katie Lee (UT) - 6-0, 6-3
                                                     
Doubles
1: No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota (UT) def. Chelcia Abajian/Leigh Finnegan (Illinois)– 8-4
2: Rosalía Alda/Zsófia Zubor (UT) def. Rachael White/Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois) – 8-6
3: Katie Lee/Maria Sorbello (UT) def. Kristina Minor/Megan Fudge (Illinois) – 8-7 (7-3)
 
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (3, 5, 1, 2*, 4, 6)
*Courtesy: Tennesse Media Relations
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UF Men's Tennis Downs UCF
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida’s 11th-ranked men’s tennis team cruised to a 7-0 victory against the University of Central Florida to open its dual match season on Friday at Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex, winning all six singles matches in straight sets.

The Gator attack was led by junior Alexandre Lacroix (Paris, France), the No. 7 player in the nation, who scored a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Marc
Rocafort at the No. 1 position in just 61 minutes, winning the first nine games in a row. Moments later, senior Antoine Benneteau (Boulogne-Billancourt, France) nailed down a 6-1, 6-1 victory at fifth singles, and freshman Sekou Bangoura Jr. (Bradenton) tallied the clincher over Claudio Romano on the second court, 6-0, 6-2.

Freshman Billy Federhofer (North Miami) posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the sixth position, while Burkhardt and freshman Bob Van Overbeek (Boca Raton) capped the sweep for the Gators. Van Overbeek overcame a slow start in the opening set to rally for a 7-5, 6-2 victory.

In doubles play, the 10th-ranked pair of Benneteau and Lacroix posted a dominating 8-2 win over No. 21 Rocafort and Romano, while Bangoura and Burkhardt also scored an 8-2 win on the second court. After the doubles point had been clinched, Federhofer and Van Overbeek fell, 8-3, at No. 3.
Match Results

Doubles
1 – (10) Benneteau/Lacroix (UF) def. (21) Rocafort/Schwartz (UCF) – 8-2 (:41)
2 – Bangoura/Burkhardt (UF) def. Beigart/Delinks (UCF) – 8-2 (:36)
3 – Romano/Sakey (UCF) def. Federhofer/Van Overbeek (UCF) – 8-3 (:43)

Singles
1 – (7) Alexandre Lacroix (UF) def. Marc Rocafort (UCF) – 6-0, 6-3 (1:01)
2 – Sekou Bangoura Jr. (UF) def. Claudio Romano (UCF) – 6-0, 6-2 (1:05)
3 – Bob Van Overbeek (UF) def. Brock Sakey (UCF) – 7-5, 6-2 (1:29)
4 – Joey Burkhardt (UF) def. Johan Beigart (UCF) – 6-4, 6-3 (1:23)
5 – Antoine Benneteau (UF) def. Mario Samson (UCF) – 6-1, 6-1 (1:04)
6 – Billy Federhofer (UF) def. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) – 6-3, 6-3 (1:16)

Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3) Singles (1, 5, 2, 6, 4, 3)
*Courtesy: Florida Media Relations

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VU Men's Netters Cruise Past N.C. State


RALEIGH, N.C. – Playing its first road match of the season against its first ranked opponent, Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis team put on an impressive showing on Friday by defeating No. 52 N.C. State 6-1 at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center.
 
With the win Vanderbilt moved to 3-0 for the first time in two seasons, while N.C. State fell to 2-1. The 3-0 start by Vanderbilt is its best since starting 5-0 during the 2007-08 season. Vanderbilt has now defeated N.C. State three seasons in a row.
 
The Commodores started the match on a positive note by claiming two of three doubles matches to take a 1-0 advantage in the match. While Vanderbilt did win the doubles point, it did come at the expense of losing the team’s perfect record in doubles and singles matches. In the first two matches of the season, Vanderbilt won all 18 of its singles and doubles matches. On Friday, Vanderbilt only lost two of nine matches.
 
Vanderbilt took an early lead in doubles when Adam Baker and Alex Zotov defeated N.C. State’s duo of Rob Lowe and Frideric Prandecki in the No. 1 slot, 9-8 (4).
 
N.C. State rallied to even the doubles match in the No. 2 position when N.C. State’s Dominic Hodgson and Dave Thomson edged Ryan Lipman and Charlie Jones, 9-8 (1).
 
With the doubles point hanging in the balance, Vanderbilt’s 57th-ranked duo of Vijay Paul and Bryant Salcedo made sure the Commodores would claim the doubles point by defeating Fernando Banos and Jaime Pulgar, 8-6, in the No. 3 position.
 
Leading 1-0, the Commodores extended their lead to two, 2-0, after Bryant Salcedo took down N.C. State’s Dominic Hodgson, 7-6 (1), 6-2, in the No. 3 singles position.
 
Vanderbilt took a commanding 3-0 lead in the match when freshman Ryan Lipman rallied from one set down to defeat Jaime Pulgar, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the No. 1 position. Lipman is now 12-3 on the year.
 
Clinching the match for Vanderbilt was senior Vijay Paul. Like Lipman, Paul needed three sets in his win over Rob Lowe in the No. 2 position. Paul defeated Lowe 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
 
Also earning wins for Vanderbilt were Adam Baker in the No. 5 position and Alex Zotov in the No. 6 position. N.C. State earned its lone point when VU’s Charlie Jones retired in the third set of his match against Dave Thompson.
Match Results
 
Doubles
1. Adam Baker/Alex Zotov (VU) d. Rob Lowe/Frideric Prandecki (NCSU) 9-8(4)
2. Dominic Hodgson/Dave Thomson (NCSU) d. Ryan Lipman/Charlie Jones (VU) 9-8(1)
3. Vijay Paul/Bryant Salcedo (VU) d. Fernando Banos/Jaime Pulgar (NCSU) 8-6
 
Singles
1.  Ryan Lipman (VU) d. Jaime Pulgar (NCSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
2. Vijay Paul (VU) d. Rob Lowe (NCSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
3. Bryant Salcedo (VU) d. Dominic Hodgson (NCSU) 7-6(1), 6-2 
4. Dave Thomson (NCSU) d. Charlie Jones (VU) 7-6(6), 6-7(3), 4-1 (Retirement)
5. Adam Baker (VU) d. Rafael Paez (NCSU) 2-6, 6-4, (10-7)
6. Alex Zotov (VU) d. Fernando Banos (NCSU) 6-0, 7-5

Order of Finish: Doubles - (1, 2, 3) Singles - (3, 1, 2*, 4, 6, 5)
*Courtesy: Vanderbilt Media Relations
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UK Women's Tennis Drops Season Opener
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team (0-1) dropped its season opener to Minnesota (1-0), 4-3 Friday at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

Kentucky’s No. 1 doubles pair of senior Christine Johnston and sophomore Caroline Lilley took the first doubles match 8-0, but the Gophers proved too much to handle for the Wildcats. UK’s No. 2 doubles pair of junior Megan Broderick and junior Lauren Meier fell 8-3, while sophomore Minnette Pienaar and freshman Elle Coldiron dropped the deciding point 8-3 on court No. 3.

Giving the second point to Minnesota, senior Christine Johnston fell on court No. 2 to Tijana Koprivicia 6-1, 6-0. Playing at No. 6 singles, UK’s Coldiron fell to Mariana Spilca in straight sets (6-1, 6-3). 

At No. 3, UK’s Lilley dropped the first set to Alexa Palen 6-2, but came back to take the final set 6-2 and the super tiebreaker 10-3. Meijer took Kentucky’s second point at No. 4, defeating Jackie Sperling in straight sets. Meijer won the match 6-4, 7-6.

UK’s Pienaar, at No. 4, nabbed the third point of the night for the Wildcats. Dropping the first set 7-6, Pienarr stormed back to take the second set 6-2 and the super tiebreaker 10-7.

Playing in the No. 1 slot, Broderick served as the match’s deciding point, but ultimately fell to Alessandra Ferrazzi 6-4, 6-1.
*Courtesy: UK Media Relations
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Tide Men Fall On The Road To Northwestern


EVANSTON, Ill. – After more than four hours on court, the 18th-ranked Alabama men’s tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision Friday night to No. 47 Northwestern at the Combe Tennis Center. With the loss, the Crimson Tide stands at 0-1 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 3-0 thus far.

Doubles action lasted over an hour with the Tide pair of sophomore Michael Thompson and freshman Jarryd Both eventually securing the point for Alabama. The South African duo outlasted the Wildcat team of freshmen Spencer Wolf and Sidarth Balaji 9-7 at the No. 3 spot. The Tide also got a win at No. 1 where senior Saketh Myneni and sophomore Michael Davis edged sophomore Tobias Reitz and junior Andrew McCarthy 9-8. At No. 2, the Northwestern tandem of senior Alex Sanborn and sophomore Joshua Graves were the first off the courts with a win, beating Tide sophomore Ricky Doverspike and freshman Ian Chadwell 8-4.

Graves got the Wildcats on the board, tying the overall match score at 1-1, when he picked up a 7-6, 6-2 victory at the No. 1 singles spot over 62nd-ranked Myneni. Alabama jumped back on top with a pair of wins on court three and court four from Doverspike and Botha. After winning a close 7-5 decision in the first, Doverspike was broken once in the second by Balaji giving the Northwestern netter the 6-4 win to force the decisive third frame. Doverspike took control in the final set winning by a 6-3 mark. Botha picked up a straight-sets win over Sanborn by the narrowest of margins 7-5, 7-6 for his third consecutive singles victory of the season.

The remaining trio of matches on court would all go to three sets making for a down-to-the-wire finish. Next to cease was on court six where Wildcat freshman Mark Schanerman dropped his first set to Chadwell 6-2 before coming back to win 7-6, 6-1 in the end. Northwestern would tie the match at 3-3 quite a while later as Wolf bested Tide senior Houssam Yassine 7-6, 1-6, 6-4. Yassine was down 5-2 in the final set and managed to win the next two games, but Wolf would finish things off shortly thereafter. The final match to be decided was on court two where McCarthy got an early break to win the first set 6-4, but No. 123 Thompson came back in the second winning 7-6 in the tiebreaker. In the final set, McCarthy came out strong and put it away by a score of 6-2.

Match Results

Doubles
1. Davis/Myneni (UA) def. Reitz/McCarthy (NW) 9-8
2. Sanborn/Graves (NW) def. Doverspike/Chadwell (UA) 8-4
3. Thompson/Botha (UA) def. Wolf/Balaji (NW) 9-7

Singles
1. Joshua Graves (NW) def. No. 62 Saketh Myneni (UA) 7-6, 6-2
2. Andrew McCarthy (NW) def. No. 123 Michael Thompson (UA) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
3. Ricky Doverspike (UA) def. Sidarth Balaji (NW) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
4. Jarryd Botha (UA) def. Alex Sanborn (NW) 7-5, 7-6
5. Spencer Wolf (NW) def. Houssam Yassine (UA) 7-6, 1-6, 6-4
6. Mark Schanerman (NW) def. Ian Chadwell (UA) 2-6, 7-6, 6-1

Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3) Singles (1, 3, 4, 6, 5, 2*)

*Courtesy: Alabama Media Relations

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Arkansas Men's Tennis Fall Short at Texas


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas men’s tennis team battled hard, but came up short against the Longhorns.. The Dills Indoor Tennis Center was at full capacity as Hog fans were on their feet to cheer on the Hogs. The enthusiasm was contagious throughout the entire match but was not enough to claim the win. Texas took the match, 6-1  

In doubles play, Texas earned the early lead claiming all three matches. The Longhorn’s duo of Jon Wiegand and Vasko Mladenov clinched the doubles point with a win over Michael Ward and Nikolas Zogaj, 8-4.At the No. 1 spot, Texas’ Dimitar Kutrovsky and Josh Zavala defeated Chris Nott and Dmitry Lebedev, 8-3, while Ed Corrie and Kellen Damico won at the No. 2 over Matt Hogan and Matt Walters.
 
Standout sophomore Nikolas Zojag had the lone win at the No. 6 spot. Zogaj fell in the first set, 6-2 but Zogaj found a solid rhythm coming back to win the match in a third set tie-breaker 10-3. Zogaj won the match, 2-6, 7-6(5), 1-0(10-3).

 At the top singles spot, No. 81 Nott and No. 5 Kutrovsky exchanged the advantage in a two hour match. Nott tool the lead going up a set and 4-0 in the second over Kutrovsky. Kutrovsky found momentum and bested Nott, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

The energy in the crowd was undeniable as newcomer Gregoire Lehmann earned his first set victory as a Razorback over Vasko Mladenov, 6-3. Lehmann fought hard but eventually fell to Mladenov, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. His passion was contagious as Taylor King tried to battled back against No. 38 Kellen Damico. He closed the gap but Damico claimed the match, 6-4, 6-2. On court 4, No. 85 Josh Zavala jumped out to an early lead over Lebedev, winning the match 6-3, 6-3.

 Junior Matt Hogan dropped the first set to the Longhorns No. 9 Ed Corrie; Hogan rebounded to take the lead in the second, 5-4. Corrie pulled through to clinch the match and the set, 6-4, 7-5.

*Courtesy: Arkansas Media Relations

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