Alabama men’s tennis began spring play last week, opening the season with a pair of 7-0 routs against Furman and Tennessee Tech in their season opener on Jan. 18. Alabama then lost consecutive matches to Auburn and Santa Clara at ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Starkville, Mississippi, on Friday and Saturday.
Picked to finish ninth in the SEC by the preseason coaches’ poll, the Crimson Tide got its season off to a quick start in its opening match against Furman, quickly securing the doubles point with one-set wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches. Australian freshman Rohan Hazratwala and fifth-year senior Gray Voelzke, a VCU transfer, clinched the point with a 6-3 win.
Alabama followed up its doubles success with victories at all six singles spots. Freshmen Vit Kalina (No. 3), Jacob Olar (No. 5) and Brendan Loh (No. 6) all won in straight sets to pick up the first singles wins of their college careers. At No. 1 singles, junior Andrii Zimnokh battled to win in a deciding 10-point tiebreaker (6-2, 5-7, 10-7) over Furman’s Nico Snyder.
A dominant day continued for the Crimson Tide versus Tennessee Tech. After splitting the first two doubles matches, Loh and senior Carlos Gimenez Perez clinched the doubles point for the team in a comfortable 6-3 win.
In identical fashion to the Furman match, Alabama swept the Golden Eagles in singles to secure a second 7-0 team victory.
On the day, the doubles tandem of Kalina and sophomore Matic Kriznik finished 2-0. Similarly, Zimnokh, Kriznik, Kalina and Olar posted two singles wins each.
The following Friday, the team traveled to Starkville to compete as a 3 seed in the 56-team ITA Kickoff Weekend. In the opening round, Alabama suffered a 4-1 loss to the then-undefeated Auburn Tigers.
Alabama struck early as No. 12-ranked doubles team Olar and Zimnokh took down the No. 24-ranked duo of Billy Blaydes and Freddy Blaydes, 6-3. Voelzke and Hazratwala clinched the doubles point in a 6-4 win of their own.
Singles play was less successful for the Crimson Tide, with Auburn winning four consecutive matches to secure a team victory. Kriznik and Kalina were each battling in the deciding sets of their match when play was concluded.
Alabama’s opening week ended the next morning when the team dropped its consolation match 4-2 against Santa Clara.
Kriznik and Kalina kept Alabama in the match as they went undefeated for the day, posting wins at No. 2 doubles and in their singles outings, both in straight sets. Zimnokh was ahead by a set at No. 1 singles when Santa Clara clinched the match.
Now sitting at 2-2 on the season, Alabama men’s tennis will look to push its record back over .500 as the team takes on Northwestern Friday night at home. The match is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Hence then, the article about alabama men s tennis sweeps early matches before setbacks at ita kick off was published today ( ) and is available on The Crimson White ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Alabama men’s tennis sweeps early matches before setbacks at ITA Kick-off )
Also on site :
- Brandon Sanderson’s Literary Fantasy Universe ‘Cosmere’ Picked Up by Apple TV (Exclusive)
- BREAKING: Andrew Walker to Star in Hallmark's Newest History-Making Crossover Movie Event
- Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Guest List Could Include Other Major Stars