April 9, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team dropped its first match in the last nine outings here Wednesday as the Blazers fell to No. 22 Alabama, 5-2.

The Blazers (9-2) had not lost a match since dropping a 4-1 decision to Mississippi State on Feb. 3rd and entered the match ranked No. 66. Alabama improved to 17-8 on the season with the victory.

UAB took a 1-0 lead in the match, taking the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and 3 positions. The Crimson Tide came back with victories in five-of-six singles matches, winning each in straight sets.

The Blazers claimed the doubles point as Hans Spangenberg and Brian Ly teamed at No. 2 to defeat Daniel Buikema and Trey Walston, 8-4 with Dan Cornei and Alex Emery taking an 8-2 win at the No. 3 doubles spot over Andrew Felsenthal and Houssam Yassine.

At the No. 1 doubles position, Alabama's duo of Michael Jung and Saketh Myneni edged the Blazers' Tyrone Ewels and Slawomir Szeremeta, 7-6 (3), to prevent a UAB doubles sweep.

But the Crimson Tide, who entered Wednesday's match coming off a 5-2 win Monday over No. 8-ranked Florida, quickly turned the tables in singles play.

Alabama won at the top three positions and also captured wins at the No. 5 and 6 spots. The Blazers got their only singles win at No. 4 as Ly defeated Javier Bes, 6-4, 6-2.

The Tide's Myneni took a 6-1, 6-4 win over Spangenberg at No. 1 singles while Mat Thibaudeau was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at No. 2 over UAB's Dan Cornei. Alabama won at No. 3 as Sammy Struyf defeated the Blazers' Szeremeta by a 6-2, 6-2. The Crimson Tide also picked up the win at No. 5 as Buikema downed Ewels, 6-1, 6-1, and at No. 6 as Jung won over UAB's Thomas Petrich, 6-0, 6-4.

UAB's next action will come Saturday when the Blazers play host to Morehead State at 2:00 p.m. at the Brook Highland Racquet Club.

No. 22 Alabama 5, No. 66 UAB 2

Doubles

No. 1 - Michael Jung/ Saketh Myneni (UA) def. Tyrone Ewels/Slawomir Szeremeta (UAB) 7-6 (3)

No. 2 - Brian Ly/Hans Spangenberg (UAB) def. Daniel Buikema/Trey Walston (UA) 8-4

No. 3 - Dan Cornei/Alex Emery (UAB) def. Andrew Felsenthal/Houssam Yassine (UA) 8-2

Singles

No. 1 - Myneni (UA) def. Spangenberg (UAB) 6-1, 6-4

No. 2 - Mat Thibaudeau (UA) def. Cornei (UAB) 7-5, 6-2

No. 3 - Sammy Struyf (UA) def. Szeremeta (UAB) 6-2, 6-2

No. 4 - Ly (UAB) def. Javier Bes (UA) 6-4, 6-2

No. 5 - Buikema (UA) def. Ewels (UAB) 6-1, 6-1

No. 6 - Jung (UA) def. Thomas Petrich (UAB) 6-0, 6-4

Records: UAB 9-2; Alabama 17-8