Troy University Athletics
Trojans Fall to Auburn, Season Ends
5/15/2010 3:15:00 PM | Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The most successful season in Troy University men's tennis came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, as the 55th-ranked Trojans fell to Auburn 4-0 at the Ring Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Florida.
The season for Troy (20-5) included the most victories in the history of men's tennis, the team's first-ever conference championship, first bid to the NCAA Tournament, three different All-Conference honors, and a pair of coaching awards for head coach Eric Hayes along the way.
Unfortunately, they ran into an Auburn (12-12) team on Saturday morning, looking for a rematch with Florida for a berth in the Round of 16.
“We just didn't come in with the confidence we have had all season,” Hayes said. “But this is all part of the process, you have to build a program in order to get to the top. This is a young team and we have never been here, hopefully we can learn from our experiences and get better. Hopefully we can get back here next year and make a run in the tournament.”
The 31st-ranked Auburn Tigers jumped ahead of the Trojans early in the doubles match and looked they would run away with the point, as they were blanking the Trojans in all three matches in the early stages.
However, with the exception being at number one, the Trojans fought back to even the matches and had chances to win.
After the 10th-ranked team Tim Puetz and Alex Stamchev defeated Troy's Luis Henrique Grangeiro and Mario Rolemberg 8-2; the battles heated up at number two and three.
At number two, the team of Branko Weber and Xavier Masson were one break away from being able to take a match from the Tigers. The two teams traded points, including breaking each other back-to-back to get the score to 8-7. However, that match was halted when the Trojans fell at number three.
The match at number three looked under control for Auburn, but the Trojans were able to come back from a 5-2 deficit to tie the match at 5-all. Unfortunately, Auburn won the last three games to claim the 8-5 victory and take the doubles point from the Trojans.
Singles play started much like doubles play did for the Trojans, as they fell behind early in each of their opening sets. The Trojans dropped opening sets at number two, three and six; while the other three matches were still in the opening sets.
Auburn went ahead 2-0 overall when 105th-ranked Alex Stamchev claimed a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Branko Weber at number three. Stamchev took control from the outset and allowed Weber to hold serve just one time in the opening set, and then took control of the match in the second set.
Meanwhile, the match was decided when Auburn claimed victories at number six and number two to move onto the second round.
When the match ended, the Trojans still had three matches in progress; including the match at number one with Luis Henrique Grangeiro playing 16th-ranked Tim Puetz. Grangeiro, just a freshman and ranked 17th in the Southern Region, was trailing 6-4, 4-3 when the match was halted.
Other matches on the court included number four Xavier Masson and Lucas Lopasso, and number five Mario Rolemberg and Oliver Strecker.
“It is sad,” Guilherme Sahadi said. “We are like a family, and we have been working hard and together all season. Hopefully the guys who are coming back learned something from this and will prepare for the tournament next season. I am going to miss playing with everyone on this team.”
The Trojans will now prepare for the fall season which will approach quickly, and will await word on their positioning for the NCAA National Indoor Tournament next winter.
Auburn 4, Troy 0
Saturday - May 15, 2010
Singles
1. (16) Tim Puetz (AU) vs. Luis Henrique Grangeiro (TROY) 6-4, 4-3 (unfinished)
2. Tim Hewitt (AU) def. Aurelien Tave (TROY) 6-0, 6-3
3. (105) Alex Stamchev (AU) def. Branko Weber (TROY) 6-1, 6-0
4. Lucas Lopasson (AU) vs. Xavier Masson (TROY) 6-6 (unfinished)
5. Oliver Strecker (AU) vs. Mario Rolemberg (TROY) 6-4 (unfinished)
6. Andy Mies (AU) def. Guilherme Sahadi (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3,6,2
Doubles
1. (10) Puetz/Stamchev (AU) def. Henrique Grangeiro/Rolemberg (Troy), 8-2
2. Hewitt/Lopasso (AU) vs. Weber/Masson (TROY) 8-7 (unfinished)
3. Mies/Strecker (AU) def. Rouchdi/Sahadi (TROY), 8-5
Order of Finish: 1,2
** number two doubles, Hewitt/Lopasso (Auburn) led 8-7 when match was halted