Troy University Athletics
Trojans Can't Finish Comeback Effort
3/21/2009 5:00:00 AM | Tennis
WILMINGTON, N.C. ? The Troy University men's tennis program lost a tough match to the 71st-ranked UNC-Wilmington Seahawks on Saturday at the UNCW Tennis Complex by a score of 5-2. The loss was the Trojans' sixth against a ranked team this season.
The Trojans(2-9) fell behind early by losing the doubles point and the first two singles matches. However, the Trojans began to battle back and captured the next two singles matches. Trailing 3-2, the Trojans couldn't finish the comeback and dropped the final two singles matches in three sets each.
After losing at number one and three doubles, the Trojan duo of Benjamin Chomette and Bastian Maucher were able to salvage a doubles match at number two. They defeated the Seahawks' Kinshuk Sharma and Illia Ziamtsou, 9-8 (7-4).
Needing to capture four of six singles matches, the Trojans could only manage two victories, but came very close to capturing the four matches they needed.
The Seahawks picked up wins at numbers five and three to increase their lead to 3-0. However, Troy picked up the next two matches and it seemed as if they would make a run at the match.
At number one singles, freshman Aurelien Tave picked up the Trojans' first victory in straight sets over Michael Pereira, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Chomette pulled the Trojans to within one point by picking up a victory at number four against Ziamtsou, 6-4, 6-4.
With two matches still remaining, number two and six, the Trojans had pulled within a point and trailed 3-2.
In both matches Troy won the first set and dropped the second set, and both matches had to move to deciding third sets. Unfortunately for the Trojans' both third sets went the way of UNC-Wilmington(10-5).
At number six, Xavier Masson, playing in only his third singles match of the season, fell to the Seahawks' Anton Nikolov, 0-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The match finished when Trojan freshman Branko Weber lost to Gustavo Bertei, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8, at number two singles.
The Trojans will next take to the courts on Wednesday against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions in Mobile.
