Troy University Athletics
Trojans Roar Back, Earn Championship Berth
4/3/2010 8:00:00 PM | Tennis
TROY, Ala. - The finals in the Sun Belt Shootout are set, and the two nationally-ranked teams entering the tournament will be paired against each other in the final contest.
The 65th-ranked Troy University men's tennis team found itself leading by two matches against Florida Atlantic, and down in the third set of the remaining two. However, facing three match points on his service, freshman Luis Henrique Grangeiro roared back to win his match at number one to send the crowd into a frenzy, and the Trojans to the championship match with a 4-1 victory over the third-seeded Owls.
Down 0-40 and 5-6 in the third and final set, Grangeiro fed off the crowd and rallied to send the game to deuce. The game went to three deuces before Grangeiro blasted a forehand down the line to beat Marc Abdelnour and grab the advantage. The final point of the game was decided when Grangeiro hit a passing shot past a sliding Abdelnourto force the deciding tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker looked as though Florida Atlantic was going to run away with it as he ran to a 3-0 lead, and then a 4-1 lead before the fun began. The Trojan freshman roared back with forehands and passing shots to tie the tiebreaker at 5-all. He then took a 6-5 lead with a winner down the line and the final point was set up with a great forehand down the line. Abdelnour got to it and sliced a backhand back over the net, but Grangeiro was standing and ready, putting the final shot away for the victory.
The Trojans were able to win the match with victories by Branko Weber at number three, Xavier Masson at number four and Guilherme Sahadi at number six.
Troy 4, Florida Atlantic 1
Saturday, April 3
Singles
1. L Henrique Grangeiro (TROY) def. Abdelnour, Marc (FAU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Aurelien Tave (TROY) vs. Harradine, Lawrence (FAU) 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 4-4, unfinished
3. Branko Weber (TROY) def. Garibovic, Ervin (FAU) 7-5, 6-5
4. Xavier Masson (TROY) def. Scholl, Joshua (FAU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0
5. Matschke, Georg (FAU) def. Mario Rolemberg (TROY) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
6. Guilherme Sahadi (TROY) def. Braunworth, Matthew (FAU) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5