Men’s Tennis: Cajuns Down No.69 FAMU To Win Third Straight Match

Contact: Jeff Schneider
 
The 57th ranked Ragin’ Cajuns men’s tennis team registered its third straight win defeating No.69 Florida A&M 5-2 in a dual match at Cajun Courts on Saturday.
 
UL (10-5) is 6-1 at home on the season with the only loss coming to No.9 Kentucky in a 5-2 contest.
 
“This was one of the toughest matches I have ever been associated with mentally, and our guys came though,” head coach Mark Jeffrey said. “All-in-all this was good result over a ranked team.”
 
The Rattlers and Cajuns split the first two doubles matches with Jarred Wynan and Damian Farinola winning at No.3, 8-4, while FAMU’s C. Salif Kante and Levan Clark had an 8-5 victory at No.1 over Rick DeGroot and Carlin Murray.
 
Florida A&M grabbed the doubles point after a 9-7 win at No.2 doubles by Takura Happy and Chidi Gabriel.
 
“I was disappointed with the energy in doubles which cost us the point,” Jeffrey said.
 
The Cajuns and Rattlers traded points to start singles play. Ted Nilsson picked up his third straight win with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No.6.
 
With FAMU up 2-1, Farinola defeated Gabriel in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to even the match.
 
“We had to battle in singles,” Jeffrey added. “Ted Nilsson had a great win at No. 6 singles, and Damian fought through some tough times to pull out the win.”
 
At No.5 singles, Wynan gutted out a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) win over Temuera Asafu-Adjaye to give the Cajuns a 3-2 edge.
 
“I was extremely proud of how Jarred came back to win his match,” Jeffrey said. “He had his back against the wall in the third set and didn’t back down.”
 
Senior Yanick Mandl clinched the match for Louisiana as he defeated Takura Happy 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 3 singles.
 
The Cajuns continue their five-match homestand on Tuesday at 2 p.m. when they host Marist at Cajun Courts.
 
#57 Louisiana 5, #69 Florida A&M 2
 
 Singles competition
1. C. Salif Kante (FAMU) def. Carlin Murray (UL) 6-4, 6-1
2. Rick DeGroot (UL) def. Levan Clark (FAMU) 3-6, 6-4, 4-4, retired
3. Yanick Mandl (UL) def. Takura Happy (FAMU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Damian Farinola (UL) def. Chidi Gabriel (FAMU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Jarred Wynan (UL) def. T. Asafu-Adjaye (FAMU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Ted Nilsson (UL) def. Fabrice Myrtil (FAMU) 6-0, 6-0
 
 Doubles competition
1. C. Salif Kante/Levan Clark (FAMU) def. Rick DeGroot/Carlin Murray (UL) 8-5
2. Takura Happy/Chidi Gabriel (FAMU) def. Yanick Mandl/Brandon Farine (UL) 9-7
3. Damian Farinola/Jarred Wynan (UL) def. Fabrice Myrtil/T. Asafu-Adjaye (FAMU) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Florida A&M 8-7; National ranking #69
Louisiana 10-5; National ranking #57
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,4,5,3)
 

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