Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, March 15
Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
10 a.m.
Troy University
4
vs
1
Eastern Kentucky
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
/ Tennis (M)
Photo by: Colin Edwards
Troy Men’s Tennis Continues Roll, Wins Twice in Florida
3/15/2016 8:03:00 PM | Tennis (M)
FT. WALTON BEACH, Florida – The Troy men's tennis team has now won 11 of its last 13 matches after grabbing a pair of wins on a neutral court against Eastern Kentucky, 4-1, and Southern Illinois, 4-3, at the Ft. Walton Beach Tennis Center.
Troy (12-11) is now back above .500 after opening the season with nine of its first 10 matches against ranked teams.
Troy's win over Southern Illinois (8-2) was especially impressive as the Salukis came in riding an eight-match winning streak. The Trojans and Salukis battled down to the wire, but it was Troy that won the final three-set match to take the team win.
Southern Illinois won the doubles points, but Troy quickly got straight-set wins from Andy Lau, Calum McKinlay and Hassan Ndayishimiye, respectively, to grab a 3-1 lead.
The Salukis came back after losing first sets to win in three at No. 2 and No. 5 singles, tying the score at 3-3. However, Giovani Samaha made a comeback of his own and won the clincher at No. 1 over Jonny Rigby, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
In the previous match against Eastern Kentucky (10-9), Troy had a bit more breathing room, but not from the start. The doubles point came down to a tiebreaker at No. 2 where Samaha and Lau gave Troy the opening point with a 7-6 (5).
Lau gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead with a win at No. 3, but the Colonels got on the board with a win at No. 6 singles.
The top of the Troy lineup, though, closed out the match as Mustapha Belcora won at No. 2, 7-5, 6-3, and Samaha won at No. 1, 6-3, 7-6 (1).
The Trojans will next be in action on Sunday, March 27, when they host Jacksonville State at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.
Troy 4, Southern Illinois 3
Mar 15, 2016 at Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (Ft. Walton Beach Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Giovani Samaha (TROY) def. Jonny Rigby (SIU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Piotr Baranski (SIU) def. Mustapha Belcora (TROY) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Andy Lau (TROY) def. Wilder Pimentel (SIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Hassan Ndayishimiye (TROY) def. Peter Molloy (SIU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Alex Pozo (SIU) def. Vaclav Slezak (TROY) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Calum McKinlay (TROY) def. Daniel Martinez (SIU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Mustapha Belcora/Calum McKinlay (TROY) vs. Jonny Rigby/Piotr Baranski (SIU) 5-3, unfinished
2. Wilder Pimentel/Alex Pozo (SIU) def. Andy Lau/Giovani Samaha (TROY) 6-4
3. Daniel Martinez/Peter Molloy (SIU) def. Hassan Ndayishimiye/Austin Racine (TROY) 6-1
Match Notes
Southern Illinois 8-2
Troy 12-11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,6,4,2,5,1)
Troy 4, Eastern Kentucky 1
Mar 15, 2016 at Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (Ft. Walton Beach Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Giovani Samaha (TROY) def. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Mustapha Belcora (TROY) def. Alex Alvaro (EKU) 7-5, 6-3
3. Andy Lau (TROY) def. Guillem Sanchis (EKU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Hassan Ndayishimiye (TROY) vs. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) 4-6, 6-6, unfinished
5. Filip Mansson (TROY) vs. Diogo Soares (EKU) 7-5, 3-6, unfinished
6. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Tomas Fernandez (TROY) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #53 Alex Alvaro/Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Vaclav Slezak/Hassan Ndayishimiye (TROY) 6-1
2. Andy Lau/Giovani Samaha (TROY) def. Sebastian Mueller/Diego Asis (EKU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Calum McKinlay/Francisco Yim Kim (TROY) def. Diogo Soares/Indra Patwardhan (EKU) 7-5
Match Notes
Eastern Kentucky 10-9
Troy 11-11
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,6,2,1)
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