Trojans Fall to FSU in Opener

Monday, January 16

Tallahassee, FL

4 p.m.

Troy University

Florida State University

1/16/2012 6:50:00 PM | Tennis (M)

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Troy men's tennis team got its 2012 season underway on Monday, falling to 44th-ranked Florida State on the road, 7-0.

The young Trojan squad, that features no seniors and just one junior, was unable to break through against the Seminoles at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center, despite taking a couple of matches beyond two sets.

Troy was blanked in the doubles point as they dropped all three matches with Mansingh Athare and Jamie Eccleton putting up the biggest fight at the third spot in the lineup, falling 8-5. However, by the time their match finished, the Trojans had already lost the doubles point.

Patrick Eichler and Sami Ghorbel fell at the number one spot, 8-1, while Anas Rouchdi and Ture Skinner lost at the number two spot, 8-2.

The Trojans seemed poised to make some noise in singles action when Rouchdi took the first set from Jordan Kelly-Houston at the first singles spot in the lineup in convincing fashion, 6-1. Rouchdi however fell in the late stages of set two, 7-5.

The two opted for a 10-point super tiebreaker in lieu of a third set, but Rouchdi got the short end as he fell 10-3 in the deciding tiebreaker.

Eichler also forced a 10-point super tiebreaker in his match with FSU's Jason Zafiros with a 6-4 win in the second set after dropping the first. However, Eichler was blanked in the tiebreaker, 10-0.

Unfortunately, like in doubles action, the Trojans strongest performances came after the match was already decided. Tadju Davies fell at number six singles, followed by Athare in the fourth spot and Ghorbel in the second spot to give the Seminoles the match.

Eccleton filled out the Trojans singles lineup in the number spot.

Troy returns to the court on Saturday when they travel to take on 21st-ranked Auburn. For more information on that match-up, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook.