April 22, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The No. 37 Auburn men’s tennis team battled through a handful of rain delays and came away with a 4-1 win over No.64 Arkansas on the first day of the 2010 SEC Tournament Thursday. The conference meet is being held at the Boone Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
“It is good to get the first round win to start the tournament,” head coach Eric Shore said. “Arkansas had a couple of guys out, but I thought our team did a good job at getting though the match today to advance to tomorrow.”
The win moves the sixth-seeded Tigers to 10-11 overall, while the 11th-seeded Razorbacks fall to 10-16 on the season.
The Razorbacks opened competition with a win at No. 2 doubles as Bradwin Williams and Taylor King topped Auburn’s Andreas Mies and Michel Monteiro, 8-5.
Freshmen duo of Tim Hewitt and Lucas Lopasso gave Auburn a win at No. 3 doubles to even competition. The pair defeated Michael Ward and Gregoire Lehmann for the second time this season, coming away with an 8-5 victory.
Auburn’s nationally-ranked doubles pair in Tim Puetz and Alex Stamchev secured the doubles point for the Tigers as the No. 13 duo topped Christopher Nott and Matthew Hogan, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles.
The Tigers added to their lead when Mies recorded a quick, two-set victory (6-1, 6-1) over Williams at No. 6 singles. Arkansas, however, made the score 2-1 as Ward defeated Oliver Strecker at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 7-5.
Hewitt gave Auburn the 3-1 advantage after he picked up a two-set win over Nicholas Zogaj at No. 3 singles. Hewitt won set one by a score of 6-4 and then took set two by a score of 7-5. Puetz sealed the Tiger victory as the 20th-ranked player defeated No. 64 Nott at No. 1 singles in two sets (6-4, 6-4).
Also competing for Auburn in singles play were Stamchev and Lopasso.
The nationally-ranked Stamchev lost set one to Hogan, 7-6 (5), but was ahead in set two, 6-5. At No. 4 singles, Lopasso took set one, 6-3, over Lehmann, but fell by the same score in set two. Lopasso had the 4-1 advantage in the final set when play was called.
Auburn will face third-seeded Georgia in the second round of competition Friday at 9 a.m. at the Boone Tennis Center.
AGATE
2010 SEC Men’s Tennis Championship
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
First Round – Match 1
#11 Arkansas (ITA No. 64) 1, #6 Auburn (ITA No. 37) 4
Doubles
1. No. 13 Tim Puetz/Alex Stamchev (AUB) def. Chris Nott/Matt Hogan (ARK) 8-4
2. Bradwin Williams/Taylor King def. Andy Mies/Antonio Monteiro (AUB) 8-5
3. Tim Hewitt/Lucas Lopasso (AUB) def. Mike Ward/Greg Lehmann (ARK) 8-5
Singles
1. No. 20 Time Puetz (AUB) def. No. 64 Chris Nott (ARK) 6-4, 6-4
2. Matt Hogan (ARK) vs. No. 97 Alex Stamchev (AUB) 7-6 (7-5), 5-6, dnf
3. Tim Hewitt (AUB) def. Tim Hewitt (ARK) 6-4, 7-5
4. Greg Lehmann (ARK) vs. Lucas Lopasso (AUB) 3-6, 6-3, 1-4, dnf
5. Mike Ward (ARK) def. Oliver Strecker (AUB) 6-3, 7-5
6. Andy Mies (AUB) def. Bradwin Williams (ARK) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2, 3, 1* Singles: 6, 5, 3, 1*
