The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulsa
Blazer Men's Tennis Team Falls To No. 19 Tulsa
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2012
TULSA, Okla. ----- The UAB men's tennis team fell in its Conference USA opener Sunday, dropping a 4-0 decision to No. 19-ranked Tulsa at the Case Tennis Center.
The Blazers (7-3, 0-1 C-USA) lost the doubles point for only the second time this season as the Golden Hurricane swept all three matches to take a 1-0 lead into singles play.
UAB's duo of Tom Puetz and David Zimmerman played the nation's No. 3-ranked team of Ashley Watling and Clifford Marsland a tight match before falling by an 8-6 score at No. 1 doubles.
Tulsa (6-6, 1-0) also won doubles matches at No. 2 and 3. Grant Ive and Alejandro Espejo were 8-2 winners at No. 2 over Danny Manlow and Daniel Moser while the Golden Hurricane tandem of Japie De Klerk and Lucian Gheorghe won by the same score at No. 3 over UAB's Lucas Dirube and Chris Helliar.
In singles play, Gheorghe quickly made it 2-0 in Tulsa's favor with his 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6 over Puetz. Marsland, ranked No. 63 in the country in singles, took a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 2 over UAB's Zimmerman before the 61st-ranked Watling sealed the victory for Tulsa with a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles.
The matches at No. 1, 4 and 5 singles were all halted once the Golden Hurricane had clinched the win.
UAB's Manlow was up on De Klerk at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 4-2 while Tulsa's Tristan Jackson led the Blazers' Moser at No. 4, 6-4, 2-3. Espejo was leading Dirube at No. 5 singles, 7-5, 4-1, when play was stopped.
The loss to Tulsa Sunday gave the Blazers a split of their two matches on the road trip this weekend. UAB defeated Oklahoma State on Saturday, 4-3.
UAB will have nearly two-week break before its next action as the Blazers will host Jacksonville State and Belmont on March 10 for a pair of matches.
#19 Tulsa 4, UAB 0
Singles
1. Japie De Klerk (TLS) vs. Danny Manlow (UAB) 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
2. #63 Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. David Zimmerman (UAB) 6-3, 6-2
3. #61 Ashley Watling (TLS) def. Chris Helliar (UAB) 7-5, 6-1
4. Tristan Jackson (TLS) vs. Daniel Moser (UAB) 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
5. Alejandro Espejo (TLS) vs. Lucas Dirube (UAB) 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
6. Lucian Gheorghe (TLS) def. Tom Puetz (UAB) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. #3 Ashley Watling/Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. David Zimmerman/Tom Puetz (UAB) 8-6
2. Grant Ive/Alejandro Espejo (TLS) def. Danny Manlow/Daniel Moser (UAB) 8-2
3. Japie De Klerk/Lucian Gheorghe (TLS) def. Chris Helliar/Lucas Dirube (UAB) 8-2
Records: UAB 7-3, Tulsa 6-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,3)
Players Mentioned
