Troy Drops Close Match at UAB

Thursday, April 10

Birmingham, Ala.

1:30 p.m.

Troy University

UAB

Photo by: Cass Davis

4/10/2014 8:50:00 PM | Tennis (M)

By: Matt Mays

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Troy men's tennis team dropped a close, 5-2, decision at UAB on Thursday evening that featured three, three-set singles matches. The match also featured Gabriel Sciacca Dias' second win over a ranked opponent this season.

Troy now turns its attention on Friday afternoon and Columbus State. The Cougars will visit the Lunsford Tennis Complex for Senior Day and the Trojans' final regular season match.

Troy (7-16) won the doubles point against UAB with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Daniel Bustamante and Gabriel Sciacca Dias picked the win at No. 3 with an 8-4 victory. Sami Ghorbel and Pablo Moreno then clinched the point with an 8-6 with at No. 1.

UAB (12-7) won the first three singles matches that were completed. The Blazers won in straight sets at No. 5 and No. 3 before taking the first three-set match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, at No. 6 singles.

Dias cut the score to 3-2 with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 1 over Chris Helliar, the 80^th-ranked singles player in the nation. Helliar was one of four seniors before their final home match at UAB.

However, the Blazers would clinch the match with another three-set win, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3, at No. 4 singles. UAB won the final three-set match by retirement, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-2, at No. 2.

Troy returns to the court when Columbus State visits the Lunsford Tennis Complex on Friday at 2 p.m. The Cougars are the 14^th-ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation. The match is the final of the regular season for Troy who opens the Sun Belt Championships on Friday, April 18, in New Orleans.

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

UAB 5, Troy 2
Lakeshore Tennis Center
April 10, 2014

Doubles
No. 1 – Sami Ghorbel/Pablo Moreno (Troy) def. Chris Helliar/Mitchell Martell (UAB) 8-6
No. 2 – Lucas Dirube/Donovan McSeveney (UAB) def. Mansingh Athare/Tommy Cundy (Troy) 8-7 (5)
No. 3 – Daniel Bustamante/Gabriel Sciacca Dias (Troy) def. Luiz Felipe Pinto/Rafael Rondino (UAB) 8-4

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles
No. 1 – Gabriel Sciacca Dias (Troy) def. #80 Chris Helliar (UAB) 6-3, 7-5
No. 2 – Rafael Rondino (UAB) def. Sami Ghorbel (Troy) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-2, default
No. 3 – Stepan Vancurik (UAB) def. Pablo Moreno (Troy) 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 – Donovan McSeveney (UAB) def. Daniel Bustamante (Troy) 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3
No. 5 – Mitchell Martell (UAB) def. Tommy Cundy (Troy) 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 – Luiz Felipe Pinto (UAB) def. Mansingh Athare (Troy) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Order of finish: 5, 3, 6, 1, 4, 2

Records: UAB 12-7, Troy 7-16