Friday, 01/13/2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Alabama men’s tennis team earned four wins on Friday at the SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championships, which are taking place at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on the University of Kentucky campus. Three of the Crimson Tide’s victories came in singles, while one was in doubles play.

“We competed well at times today, but we could have executed better at some big moments in our matches,” said Alabama assistant coach Jeff Nevolo. “I felt we competed well and will look to continue to make progress and get better in our matches tomorrow.”

The Tide split matches in doubles in the round of 32 on the first day of play. Senior Ricky Doverspike and freshman Filippos Tsangaridis came out on the winning end, outlasting Florida sophomores Michael Alford and Florent Diep, 9-8(5), while senior Michael Thompson and freshman David Vieyra were edged out by Mississippi junior Adrian Forberg Skogeng and freshman Joe Rogers, 8-5.

In singles, Doverspike and Tsangaridis both won their opening matches as Doverspike picked up a hard-fought three setter against Vanderbilt freshman Anton Kovrigin by a score of 6-2, 6-7(0), 6-4, while Tsangaridis topped Commodore senior Alex DiValerio, 7-5-6-2. Doverspike was faced with the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed in his second match in Georgia senior Wil Spencer. The Tide senior would push Spencer to three sets, but would come up shy of the upset, falling 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to the Bulldog. Tsangaridis also fell in his round of 16 matchup, dropping a 6-0, 6-2 decision to the No. 4 seed in Kentucky senior Alex Musialek.

“Ricky played two tough matches today,” added Nevolo. “I was really pleased with how he competed.”

Vieyra, despite being edged by Vanderbilt senior Charlie Jones, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in his first match, advanced to the round of 16 in the consolation draw after having won his match against Rogers, 6-4, 2-0. Rogers would retire due to injury. Thompson also competed in singles, falling to Wildcat sophomore Alejandro Gomez, 6-4, 6-4. Thompson will continue in the consolation draw, but had a bye in his first round on Friday.

Match play will resume on Saturday morning.

RESULTS
Doubles
Doverspike/Tsangaridis (UA) def. Diep/Alfrod (UF) 9-8(5)
Rogers/Skogeng (UM) def. Thompson/Vieyra (UA) 8-5

Singles
Ricky Doverspike (UA) def. Anton Kovrigin (VU) 6-2, 6-7(0), 6-4
Wil Spencer (UGA) def. Ricky Doverspike (UA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Charlie Jones (VU) def. David Vieyra (UA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
David Vieyra (UA) def. Joe Rogers (UM) 6-4, 2-0, ret.
Filippos Tsangaridis (UA) def. Alex DiValerio (VU) 7-5, 6-2
Alex Musialek (UK) def. Filippos Tsangaridis (UA) 6-0, 6-2
Alejandro Gomez (UK) def. Michael Thompson (UA) 6-4, 6-4