Sunday, 02/28/2010

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 28 Alabama men’s tennis team (3-5) will be looking to break a four-match losing streak when it hosts a trio of matches over the weekend. The Crimson Tide will clash with No. 16 Pepperdine (4-3) on Friday, Feb. 26 at Noon (CST) before playing a doubleheader on Sunday with Eastern Kentucky (6-4) at 10:00 a.m. (CST) and Winthrop (0-4) at 3:00 p.m. (CST).

 

“It’s good to return home and host several matches this weekend including another highly ranked national team with Pepperdine,” said head coach Billy Pate.  “We’ve played them the last two years and both matches were 4-3 affairs with both going down to the wire knotted at 3-3. This is likely to be that kind of match. We have been better outdoors this year and at home so we’re excited about the opportunity and look forward to playing well.”

 

Alabama lost its fourth consecutive match last weekend, falling 5-2 to then-No. 44 Oklahoma in Norman on Friday. The Tide got off to a hot start, taking the doubles point thanks to wins on courts one and two. Oklahoma bounced back quickly in singles action, collecting straight sets victories at the Nos. 3,5, and 6 spots to take a 3-1 lead. Senior and 61st-ranked Saketh Myneni kept the Tide alive by defeating No. 11 Andrei Daescu 6-4, 6-3 on court one, but the Sooners took the final two singles matches in three sets to record a 5-2 victory. Alabama is a perfect 3-0 at home this season, while still searching for its first win away from Tuscaloosa this season.

 

Pepperdine heads to Tuscaloosa after defeating No. 27 Fresno State 5-2 in Malibu on Tuesday. The Waves dropped the doubles point, but rallied back to take five of six singles matches to claim the win. Pepperdine currently has two singles players ranked nationally, as senior Bassam Beidas checks in at No. 44 and freshman Finn Tearney sits at No. 115.

 

The Waves hold a 3-3 record against ranked opponents, including 2-2 away from home. Pepperdine leads the all-time series with the Tide 4-2, including picking up a tight 4-3 decision in Malibu last season as part of the 2009 National Indoor Championships qualifying. Waves head coach Adam Steinberg should be very familiar with his surroundings this weekend in Tuscaloosa, as he was the head coach at Alabama from 1998-2002.

 

Eastern Kentucky comes into the weekend with a two match winning streak, sweeping a pair of matches from the University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College last Saturday. The wins ran the Colonels’ record to a perfect 6-0 at home this season, but leaves them still searching for their first road win. Eastern Kentucky has never defeated Alabama in their two previous meetings, but the teams have not met since 1976. The Colonels will take on Birmingham-Southern on Friday before traveling to Tuscaloosa.

 

Winthrop is still searching for its first win of the 2010 season. The latest defeat came at the hands of then-No. 52 UNC-Wilmington 6-1 in Wilmington on Sunday, the second loss of the season against a ranked foe. The Eagles and Tide have only met once, with Alabama taking the 2007 matchup via a 7-0 sweep. Winthrop will travel to face Troy on Friday and UAB on Saturday before heading to Tuscaloosa on Sunday.

 

Next up, the Tide opens up SEC play, hosting No. 9 Georgia on Friday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) and No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m. (CST).