Sunday, 10/11/2009

TULSA, Okla. – Neal Skupski, a sophomore on the LSU men’s tennis team,  fell to 41st-ranked Jason Jung of Michigan in the third round at the D’Novo All-American Championships on Friday to end his run in a three-set standoff, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.

 

Skupski worked his way through the qualifying rounds, which began on Monday, to earn entry into the main draw with victories over William and Mary’s Keziel Juneau, UNLV’s Mehdi Bouras and North Carolina’s Stefan Hardy.

 

After a straight-set victory over 5th-ranked Guillermo Gomez in Thursday’s opening rounds, the LSU sophomore defeated 46th-ranked Ed Corrie of Texas early Friday by a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 mark to earn his position in the third round of the singles main draw.

 

“We expect Neal to be one of the top players in the country,” LSU assistant coach Danny Bryan said. “This weekend, he showed us he was capable of that and he is looking forward to getting back to work, improving his weaknesses and bettering his game.”

 

Skupski’s doubles run ended as well after he and LSU junior Sebastian Carlsson were bounced by Tennessee’s Boris Conkic and John Patrick Smith in their second-round matchup, 8-6.

 

Next up, the Tigers will compete in the ITA Southern Regional slated for Oct. 22-25 in New Orleans, La.

 

D’Novo All-American Championships

Singles and Doubles Main Draws

Oct. 8-11

Tulsa, Okla.

 

Singles

 

Second Round

Neal Skupski (LSU) def. Ed Corrie (Texas), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

 

Third Round

Jason Jung (Michigan) def. Neal Skupski (LSU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

 

Doubles

 

Second Round

Boris Conkic/John Patrick Smith (Tennessee) def. Neal Skupski/Sebastian Carlsson (LSU), 8-6