The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Men's Tennis Team Outlasts Samford, 4-3
2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 10, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team won for the third straight time as the Blazers outlasted crosstown foe Samford, 4-3, Friday in a marathon match at the Samford Tennis Center.
The Blazers (4-1) prevailed as Tom Puetz claimed a three-set win at the No. 6 singles position over Ryan Shidler, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Puetz's win ended a match that lasted nearly six-and-a-half hours.
The Bulldogs (3-1) lost for the first time this season after winning their first three matches of the 2012 campaign. After losing the doubles point, Samford made it interesting with wins at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles.
UAB took a 1-0 lead in the match with a sweep in doubles play. Puetz and David Zimmerman were 8-4 winners at No. 1 over Samford's Zac Dunkle and Alexander Sajonz while Lucas Dirube and Chris Helliar edged past Elliot Barnwell and Shidler, 9-8 (8-6), at No. 2 doubles.
The Blazers also claimed a victory at No. 3 doubles as Danny Manlow and Daniel Moser defeated Fernando Costa and Carson Kadi, 8-5.
Moser captured a straight-set win at No. 5 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Sajonz. Manlow provided a crucial three-set triumph at the No. 1 spot as the UAB senior rallied for a hard-fought 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4 win over Samford's Kadi.
The Bulldogs got a win at No. 4 singles as Costa defeated Blazer sophomore Dirube, 6-1, 6-2. Dunkle won a tight 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 decision at No. 2 singles over UAB's Zimmerman with Barnwell giving Samford its other point in the match with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win over Helliar at the No. 3 spot.
Friday's win helped UAB avenge a 4-3 loss to Samford last March.
The Blazers will now look ahead to a second straight road match as they travel to Clarksville, Tenn. to take on Austin Peay from the Ohio Valley Conference on Sunday. The match against the Govs is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.
UAB 4, Samford 3
Singles
1. Danny Manlow (UAB) def. Carson Kadi (SAM-MT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4
2. Zac Dunkle (SAM-MT) def. David Zimmerman (UAB) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
3. Elliot Barnwell (SAM-MT) def. Chris Helliar (UAB) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
4. Fernando Costa (SAM-MT) def. Lucas Dirube (UAB) 6-1, 6-2
5. Daniel Moser (UAB) def. Alexander Sajonz (SAM-MT) 6-4, 6-2
6. Tom Puetz (UAB) def. Ryan Shidler (SAM-MT) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles
1. David Zimmerman/Tom Puetz (UAB) def. Zac Dunkle/Alexander Sajonz (SAM-MT) 8-4
2. Chris Helliar/Lucas Dirube (UAB) def. Elliot Barnwell/Ryan Shidler (SAM-MT) 9-8 (8-6)
3. Danny Manlow/Daniel Moser (UAB) def. Fernando Costa/Carson Kadi (SAM-MT) 8-5
Players Mentioned
