Trojans Fall to No.71 Cajuns in First Round

Thursday, April 19

Denton, Texas

3:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Photo by: Tyler Myers

Trojans Fall to No.71 Cajuns in First Round

4/19/2012 7:25:00 PM | Tennis (M)

By: Matt Mays

TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's tennis team fought hard, but fell to No.71 Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championships, 4-1, ending the season for the Trojans.

Troy (5-18), the sixth seed in the tournament, dropped the doubles point to the Cajuns (15-7), the third seed, and despite good play in singles, was unable to complete the comeback.

The Trojans fell at number two and three doubles, making it unnecessary to finish the match at number one doubles, but Troy didn't give up in singles play as they fought to keep their season alive.

Mansingh Athare picked up Troy's only win of the day with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph at number five singles. The Trojans fell, however, at numbers one, three and four to give the Cajuns the match. Although Troy fell in straight sets in all three matches, all three were much closer than the scores indicated.

However, the Trojans were very much in the two matches that were unfinished. Sami Ghorbel, who finished the season playing as well as any Trojan, fought back from a first set loss and was trailing in a third set when his match was suspended at 6-2, 3-6, 2-1.

At number six, Tadju Davies did the same, coming back to win the second set, and was pushing in a third set when the match was suspended at 6-3, 1-6, 3-0.

The loss ends the season for the Trojans who did not have a single senior on the roster and just one junior, Anas Rouchdi.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

#71 Louisiana-Lafayette 4, Troy 1
Apr 19, 2012 at Denton, Texas (Waranch Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. Rick DeGroot (ULL) def. Anas Rouchdi (TROY) 6-4, 6-3
2. Carlin Murray (ULL) vs. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) 6-2, 3-6, 2-1, unfinished
3. Yanick Mandl (ULL) def. Jamie Eccleton (TROY) 6-2, 6-3
4. Ted Nilsson (ULL) def. Patrick Eichler (TROY) 6-1, 6-3
5. Mansingh Athare (TROY) def. Damian Farinola (ULL) 6-4, 6-3
6. Jarred Wynan (ULL) vs. Tadju Davies (TROY) 6-3, 1-6, 3-0, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Rick DeGroot/Carlin Murray (ULL) vs. Sami Ghorbel/Mansingh Athare (TROY) 6-2, unfinished
2. Brandon Farine/Yanick Mandl (ULL) def. Tommy Cundy/Ture Skinner (TROY) 8-2
3. Damian Farinola/Jarred Wynan (ULL) def. Patrick Eichler/Anas Rouchdi (TROY) 8-4

Match Notes
Troy 5-18
Louisiana-Lafayette 15-7; National ranking #71