The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Nicholls State
Men's Tennis Sweeps Pair Of Friday Opponents
3/1/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 1, 2013
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team won its fourth and fifth consecutive matches Friday -- both in impressive fashion -- as the Blazers downed visiting Nicholls State and Lipscomb at the George Ward Tennis Center.
The Blazers (7-6) captured shutout victories against the Colonels (4-0) and Bisons (7-0) to continue their recent hot streak. Both matches were played in cold, blustery conditions.
UAB's five straight wins have come after the Blazers lost five duals in a row, four of those to ranked teams.
The Blazers began Friday with a sweep of Nicholls State. UAB won the doubles point, taking matches at the No. 1 and 2 positions. Tom Puetz and David Zimmerman defeated Damien Despotovski and Dmitry Kozionov, 8-2, at the No. 1 spot before Lucas Dirube and Chris Helliard downed Roy Knight and James Russell by an 8-4 score.
Zimmerman was one of three Blazers to win in singles with the other three matches halted once UAB clinched with its fourth point. Zimmerman downed Despotovski, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 1 position. Helliar and Dirube provided the other Blazer wins with triumphs at No. 4 and 6, respectively.
Helliar defeated Russell, 6-1, 6-2, while Dirube was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Jeoffrey Noblecourt at No. 6.
Later in the day, UAB claimed its fifth straight win with a 7-0 decision over Lipscomb.
The Blazers swept the doubles to take a 1-0 lead and then won at all six singles positions, five of those in straight sets.
In singles, Zimmerman took a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 over Oliver Strecher with Puetz getting past David Salazar at No. 2, 7-6, 6-4.
Helliar won his sixth consecutive singles match to improve to 9-4 in dual matches this season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Stuart Tierney at No. 4. Luiz Felipe Pinto was a 7-6, 6-1 winner at No. 5 over Miguel Cortez while Dirube won his second singles match on the day, beating Colby Shaw, 7-5, 6-3.
UAB will face two more opponents on Sunday when the Blazers play host to Jacksonville State and Belmont at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
FRIDAY RESULTS
UAB 4, Nicholls State 0
Doubles
No. 1 - Tom Puetz/David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Damien Despotovski/Dmitry Kozionov (Nich) 8-2
No. 2 - Lucas Dirube/Chris Helliar (UAB) def. Roy Knight/James Russell (Nich) 8-4
No. 3 - Evan Karatzas/Nico Mertens (Nich) def. Luiz Felipe Pinto/Rafael Rondino (UAB) 8-6
Singles
No. 1 - David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Damien Despotovski (Nich) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 - Tom Puetz (UAB) vs. Dmitry Kozionov (Nich) 4-6, 3-2, unf.
No. 3 - Rafael Rondino (UAB) vs. Nico Mertens (Nich) 6-2, 6-5, unf.
No. 4 - Chris Helliar (UAB) def. James Russell (Nich) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 - Luiz Felipe Pinto (UAB) vs. Evan Karatzas (Nich) 5-7, 1-1, unf.
No. 6 - Lucas Dirube (UAB) def. Jeoffrey Noblecourt (Nich) 6-3, 6-2
Records: UAB 6-6, Nicholls State 6-5
UAB 7, Lipscomb 0
Doubles
No. 1 - Tom Puetz/David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Daniel Hernandez/David Salazar (Lip) 8-5
No. 2 - Lucas Dirube/Chris Helliar (UAB) def. Miguel Cortez/Stuart Tierney (Lip) 8-3
No. 3 - Luiz Felipe Pinto/Rafael Rondino (UAB) def. Tanner Brown/Colby Shaw (Lip) 8-5
Singles
No. 1 - David Zimmerman (UAB) def. Oliver Strecher (Lip) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 - Tom Puetz (UAB) def. David Salazar (Lip) 7-6 (4), 6-4
No. 3 - Rafael Rondino (UAB) def. Daniel Hernandez (Lip) 5-7, 6-3, 10-5
No. 4 - Chris Helliar (UAB) def. Stuart Tierney (Lip) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Luiz Felipe Pinto (UAB) def. Miguel Cortez (Lip) 7-6 (1), 6-1
No. 6 - Lucas Dirube (UAB) def. Colby Shaw (Lip) 7-5, 6-3
Records: UAB 7-6, Lipscomb 3-5
