Men’s Tennis: Cajuns Knock Down #11 Seminoles

Men’s Tennis: Cajuns Knock Down #11 Seminoles

Kenny Alford, Sports Information –

Tallahassee, Fla.- The No. 47th ranked Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns’ men’s tennis team (3-0) pulled off its’ biggest victory under Head Coach Justin Mcgrath, defeating the No. 11th ranked Florida State Seminoles 4-3, Saturday, at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

“We were down early, but we showed a lot of character and perseverance to come back and get the victory the way we did," said McGrath.

With the victory the Cajuns’ improve to 3-0 on the young season and also snapped a Seminole nine-match home win streak that dated back to Feb. 6, 2005.

Florida State started out strong and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in singles competition. Junior Dusan Tabak lost to Chris Westerhof in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. Sam Chang defeated Amanjot Singh also in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

The Cajuns’ swept the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 slots. Senior Robin Ley defeated Maciek Sykut 6-4, 6-4 and Freshman Matthieu Truong downed Andrew Bailey 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 6. With the scored tied at three Senior Evghenii Corduneanu bested Ytai Abougzir in a thrilling, three-set battle 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-4.

In doubles action Corduneanu and Singh lost to Abougzir and Westerhof, 8-3. Truong and Tabak were downed by Bailey and Sykut, the No. 63-ranked doubles team in the country, 8-3. At the No. 3 doubles slot Elison and Ley defeated Chang and Chris Cloer, 8-7.

“I have to give credit to Louisiana-Lafayette," said Seminoles Head Coach Dwayne Hultquist. “They really played well out there today."

After consecutive 7-0 shut-out victories over Southern and Alcorn State the Cajuns’ showed that they can play with the best in the nation. “I was so proud of our guys today, and I think that this season can be very special for us added McGrath."

The No. 47th ranked Cajuns’ can also expect to vault in the ITA rankings. “It’s early in the season and I am not worried about rankings," said McGrath. “We are just going to go out there and give it all we have each time we step on the court and the rest will take care of itself."

The Cajuns’ will return to action Feb. 5, when they travel to Oxford, Miss., to take on Ole Miss.

University of Louisiana vs. Florida State

Singles

Evghenii Corduneanu (UL) Def. Ytai Abougzir, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-4

Robin Ley (UL) Def. Chris Cloer, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4

Shaun Ellison (UL)Def. Justin Worthy, 6-0, 6-0

Sam Chang Def. Amanjot Singh (UL), 6-3, 6-4

Chris Westerhof Def. Dusan Tabak (UL), 6-1, 6-2

Matthieu Truong (UL) Def. Andrew Bailey 6-2, 7-5

Doubles

Abougzir Westerhof Def. Corduneanu/Singh (UL), 8-3

Ellison/Ley (UL) Def. Chang/Cloer, 8-7

Bailey/Sykut Def. Tabak/Truong (UL), 8-3