Trojans Take 4-3 Decision over EKU

Tuesday, March 12

Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

11:00 a.m.

Troy University

Eastern Kentucky

Photo by: Cass Davis

3/12/2013 5:33:00 PM | Tennis (M)

By: Matt Mays

FT. WALTON BEACH, Fla. – The Troy men's tennis team rallied in singles play to take a 4-3 win over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at the Ft. Walton Beach Tennis Center.

Troy (7-6) has now won six straight matches, this one over a quality EKU club that is the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion and an NCAA Tournament participant a year ago.

“We came out losing the doubles point and dug a hole,” Troy head coach Eric Hayes said. “The guys did a good job of fighting back. Daniel (Bustamante) did great winning his first clinching point as a freshman. We are looking forward to playing Notre Dame on Friday.”

Daniel Bustamante came up big in the clutch for Troy, taking his match at fourth singles in three-sets with the score tied at 3-3. Bustamante was down 4-3 in the third set, but came back to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to clinch the match for Troy. The win was the sixth straight in singles play for the true freshman.

Troy had to win four of the six singles matches after dropping two of three doubles matches and the opening point.

Andre Stabile was dominant at sixth singles, winning 6-2, 6-2 to put Troy on the board with the first singles win. Sami Ghorbel put Troy up 2-1 with a 6-0, 6-2 win at third singles.

After EKU (5-10) tied the score at 2-2, Troy's Anas Rouchdi won his seventh straight match at first singles, taking a 7-6, 6-4 decision over Daridge Saidi to retake the lead for Troy.

A loss at fifth singles set up Bustamante's heroics as it brought EKU even again at 3-3.

Complete results for Tuesday's match are below. Troy returns to the court on Friday to open play at the prestigious Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. The Trojans will take on No.22 Notre Dame in the first round on Friday at 11 a.m. The eight-team tournament features five nationally ranked teams and runs through Sunday.

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

Troy 4, Eastern Kentucky 3

Singles competition
1. Anas Rouchdi (TROY) def. Daridge Saidi (EKU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
2. Alex Alavaro (EKU) def. Mansingh Athare (TROY) 6-3, 7-6
3. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) def. Lucas Smets (EKU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Daniel Bustamante (TROY) def. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5. Joao Maio (EKU) def. Tadju Davies (TROY) 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
6. Andre Stabile (TROY) def. Ignacio Moerno (EKU) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Athare/Ghorbel (TROY) def. Alvaro/Saidi (EKU) 8-2
2. de la Llera/Maio (EKU) def. Rouchdi/Eichler (TROY) 8-4
3. Smets/Jan Dombrowski (EKU) def. Bustamante/Stabile (TROY) 8-5

Match Notes
Eastern Kentucky 5-10
Troy 7-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,3,2,1,5,4)
T-4:30