March 21, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. ----- The nationally-ranked UAB men's tennis team won its eighth consecutive match Friday, defeating Conference USA foe Memphis, 4-3.

The Blazers, now 9-1 on the season (4-0 in C-USA play) and listed at No. 45 in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, clinched the match at No. 2 singles as freshman Dan Cornei defeated UM's Leon Nasemann, 6-4, 6-4, to give UAB a 4-1 lead.

UAB also earned a point with wins at No. 2 and 3 doubles, as well as with victories at No. 3 (Johannes Spangenberg) and No. 4 (Brian Ly) singles.

Spangenberg disposed of Jimmy Khougassian, 6-2, 6-3, while Ly was a 6-3, 6-1 winner at No. 4 over Michael Gaerthoeffner.

"I thought Brian probably played his best match of the season," said UAB head coach Derek Tarr, "against a tough opponent. I think he (Gaerthoeffner) had the best record on the team for them."

Slawomir Szeremeta lost his match at No. 1 singles to the Tigers' Amrit Narasimhan, 6-2, 6-4. After the match was clinched by Cornei, Memphis rallied to win at No. 5 and 6 singles.

Memphis' Charlie Ramsay defeated UAB's Tyrone Ewels, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) at No. 5 while Thomas Petrich was beaten at No. 6 by Benedikt Fischer, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (7).

The Blazers had grabbed a 1-0 lead in doubles as Spangenberg and Ly teamed at No. 2 to down Khougassian and Nasemann, 8-6. At the No. 3 spot, Cornei and Alex Emery won for UAB with an 8-6 triumph ver UM's Spencer Heflin and Jordan Smith. The Tigers took the No. 1 doubles match as Narasimhan and Ramsay defeated UAB's duo of Ewels and Szeremeta, 8-5.

Doubles

No. 1 - Amrit Narasimhan/Charlie Ramsay (UM) def. Tyrone Ewels/Slawomir Szeremeta (UAB) 8-5

No. 2 - Brian Ly/Johannes Spangenberg (UAB) def. Jimmy Khougassian/Leon Nasemann (UM) 8-6

No. 3 - Dan Cornei/Alex Emery (UAB) def. Spencer Heflin/Jordan Smith (UM) 8-6

Singles

No. 1 - Narasimhan (UM) def. Szeremeta (UAB) 6-2, 6-4

No. 2 - Dan Cornei (UAB) def. Leon Nasemann (UM) 6-4, 6-4

No. 3 - Johannes Spangenberg (UAB) def. Jimmy Khougassian (UM) 6-3, 6-3

No.4 - Brian Ly (UAB) def. Michael Gaerthoeffner (UM) 6-3, 6-1

No. 5 - Charlie Ramsay (UM) def. Tyrone Ewels (UAB) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)

No. 6 - Benedikt Fischer (UM) def. Thomas Petrich (UAB) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (7)

Records: UAB (9-1, 4-0); Memphis (5-8, 0-1)