Sophomore Daniil Proskura gives the Crimson Tide its lone win on the day
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Sophomore Daniil Proskura gave the Alabama men’s tennis team a win in singles on Sunday to bring the Crimson Tide’s three-day total to 12 victories. Alabama split its squad this weekend, sending members to both the Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational in Chicago as well as the Duke Fab Four Invite in Cary, N.C.
“We had success at both events this weekend, though I am not sure we finished today as well as I would have liked,” said Alabama head coach Billy Pate. “In talking to (assistant coach) Bo Hodge, who was in Chicago, it seems we both saw areas we really liked from certain guys.”
Proskura’s straight-set win came over Texas junior Chris Camillone by a score of 6-4, 7-5. Sophomore Carlos Taborga and freshman Stuart Kenyon also competed in singles at the OFCC Fighting Illini Invitational on Sunday, falling 6-2, 6-2 to Texas sophomore David Holiner and 6-3, 6-4 to Notre Dame junior Blas Moros, respectively.
At the Duke Fab Four Invite, junior Jarryd Botha had a strong showing against the No. 4 player in the nation in Duke junior Henrique Cunha, but fell short, 6-4, 7-5. Senior Ricky Doverspike also took on a Blue Devil opponent in freshman Jason Tahir and was outlasted by the Duke netter 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(4). Senior Michael Thompson represented Alabama in his singles consolation finals on Sunday after a pair of solid performances on Saturday, but came up shy, falling 6-2, 6-2 to Louisville freshman Albert Wagner.
“It’s unfortunate Rens van der Vis and Vikram Reddy both were injured as we would like to get them going with competition,” added Pate. “Jarryd’s level was very high this weekend. He was up two breaks in the second set against Henrique Cunha today, who is certainly among the top five players in the country, so I feel like Jarryd is make a jump and improving mentally and physically. Daniil also had a good weekend in Chicago. We’ll address the areas we need to improve on and look forward to getting back out there in two weeks.”
Alabama will resume its fall schedule on October 1, when it heads to the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta.
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RESULTS
Singles
Henrique Cunha (DUKE) def. Jarryd Botha (UA) 6-4, 7-5
Jason Tahir (DUKE) def. Ricky Doverspike (UA) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(4)
Albert Wagner (LOU) def. Michael Thompson (UA) 6-2, 6-2
Blas Moros (ND) def. Stuart Kenyon (UA) 6-3, 6-4
Daniil Proskura (UA) def. Chris Camillone (UT) 6-2, 7-5
David Holiner (UT) def. Carlos Taborga (UA) 6-2, 6-2
