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Successful week in tennis

Posted on Feb 09, 2010 in Sports

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The Blazers displayed dominance and resiliency as they went a perfect three for three on the week.

UAB started the week with a Monday meeting at Birmingham-Southern. The Blazers easily took down BSC 7-0
enroute to their first win of the season.

The Blazers started off strong sweeping all three doubles’ matchups to take the opening point of the match.

They did not slow down any when singles started, as three Blazers blanked their opponents. No.’s 3-5 spots of Daniel Moser, Alex Emery, and Thomas Petrich respectively, each shutout their BSC counterparts 6-0, 6-0.

Dan Cornei almost accomplished the same feat in the No. 2 spot as he downed Richard Pearlman 6-0, 6-1. John Hollimon also won in straight sets in the No. 6 position as he defeated Hanlon Walsh 6-2, 6-2.

Michael Locandro was the only Panther to give the Blazers a fight as he battled in the No. 1 slot against UAB’s David Zimmerman.

The two fought in a three-set match that saw Zimmerman prevail 6-3, 4-6, 10-6. The Blazers improved to 1-1 and the Panthers dropped to 0-1.

UAB would show much of the same on Wednesday as they were up against the Lions of North Alabama. The Blazers again dominated and took the match 7-0. There were no shutouts this time; however, UAB would not drop a set.
The Blazers continued the trend and took all three doubles matchups to take a 1-0 lead. In singles, Danny Manlow started the day for UAB with a victory in the No. 1 slot 6-2, 6-4.

In the No. 2 spot, David Zimmerman’s day was a bit smoother compared to his Monday matchup at BSC as he downed his opponent 6-1, 6-2.

Dan Cornei picked up a win in the No. 3 position as he took down Carlos Cardenas 6-1, 6-3.

Daniel Moser and Alex Emery picked up identical wins in the No.’s 4 and 5 spots respectively nearly blanking their opponents 6-0, 6-1.

Thomas Petrich was taken to a first set tiebreak in the No. 6 position, as he would eventually prevail and go on to control the second set clinching his match 7-6, 6-1 giving the Blazers their second straight 7-0 victory. UAB moved to 2-1 and UNA dropped to 0-1.

UAB’s third victory would not come easily as they met with a scrappy Georgia State team.

In a Friday night showdown at Samford’s indoor tennis center, the Blazers found themselves in a very tough fight eventually taking down the Panthers 4-1.

UAB started strong picking up two quick victories in doubles (8-2 and 8-3) to give the Blazers the opening point of the match.

Singles’ competition; however, would be a bit more interesting. Three Blazers would be taken to three sets as Danny Manlow and Daniel Moser picked up victories and Dan Cornei would fall in a heartbreaker.

Manlow dropped the opening set in the No. 1 position; however, he would control the second set and survive a third set tiebreaker giving the Blazers their second point of the match with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(8-6) victory.

In the No. 2 slot, Cornei would follow a similar script, but fate would be cruel in the third set as he dropped a third set tiebreaker to GSU’s Calvin Kemp 0-6, 6-4, 6-7(6-8).

Kemp is the former teammate of Donald Young, who is now widely known in American tennis as the new up and comer for the United States.

Moser would right the ship for UAB in the No. 4 position as he prevailed in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Moser’s victory was the clincher for UAB after David Zimmerman picked up a 7-5, 6-1 victory earlier in the match in the No. 3 position.

Thomas Petrich was in control of his No. 6 position match 6-4, 4-2 when play was called after Moser’s clincher. Alex Emery’s match was also suspended.

The Blazers third straight win improved their record to 3-1 and dropped Georgia State to 2-1.

The Blazers showed they can be impressive and their competitiveness will be tested further more with an upcoming matchup against No. 28 Auburn, a match that was postponed on account of weather.

The men’s tennis team will compete again on Friday at Lakeshore Tennis Center against Kennesaw State.

Women’s Tennis

The Lady Blazers did not have as busy a week as the men’s, but it was just as impressive. UAB took on Charlotte in the Blazers’ first home match of the season. Victories in the top spots made the home opener a successful one as the Blazers prevailed 4-1.

Due to weather and scheduling conflicts with Charlotte, the teams decided to save doubles’ competition for last in case singles was held at a deadlock. UAB made certain to not let the match go that far.

The match looked to be a struggle early as both Evelien Strijker (No. 1 position) and Paula Alvarez (No. 2 position) dropped their opening set. Both would battle back strong with convincing performances in the latter sets. Strijker would pick up a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win and Alvarez would finish off her opponent 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

UAB would tally another point as Giorgia Romeo picked up a straight-set victory in the No. 3 slot over Andrea Rivera 6-4, 6-4. Brittany DeFelice would pick up UAB’s fourth point with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 vicory in the No. 5 spot over Gabi Vergara.

UAB’s only dropped match came in the No.4 position as Menanteau Moolman fell to Kimber Redfern 3-6, 2-6. UAB’s clincher halted Jenny Cape’s No. 6 slot match as she was in control 6-3, 4-1.

The Blazers improved to 1-1 and Charlotte fell to 0-3. The Lady Blazers return to action at home on February 12 against Kennesaw State at Lakeshore Tennis Center and February 13 against Arkansas State at Brook Highland Racquet Club.
 

Email: tabdalla@uab.edu