Feb. 8, 2009
Final Stats
Asheville, N.C. - The Kennesaw State men's tennis team pushed UNC Asheville to a tiebreaker in the final match on the courts but couldn't clinch the win, as the Bulldogs denied the Owls their first-ever dual match victory by claiming a 4-3 decision at the UNCA Tennis Center on Saturday.
"It was a really great match today and a much better performance than yesterday," said Kennesaw State Director of Tennis Operations T.J. Greggs. "Even with two players out of the lineup with illness (Langel and Bouttell) and another playing while severely dehydrated and suffering from flu-like symptoms, we were able to stay competitive today and come within inches of our first victory."
The Owls rebounded nicely after getting swept in the doubles competition, winning three of the first five singles points to tie the match at three points apiece. With the match tied and the day's outcome resting on the shoulders of the winner, Justin Suesserman and his opponent Alexander Greer battled at No. 6 to decide the champion.
Suesserman jumped out front early, winning the first set 6-4 to give the Owls the quick lead. Greer bounced back in the second, tying the match with a 7-5 win to force a third and final set. Due to darkness, the deciding third set was converted to a supertiebreaker, which Greer eventually claimed 11-9 to give the Bulldogs the 4-3 win and their first victory of the season.
Eventhough he was battling flu-like symptoms, Simon Janik gritted it out to earn his first collegiate dual match win. The freshman from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada earned the Owls first point of the day with his 6-4, 6-3 straight-set win over Jonas Brobeck at No. 3.
Earning the Owls second point and tying the match at 2-2 was Tyler Mills, who won his second singles match in a row after holding on to beat Nicolai Nonnebroich at No. 2 singles. Mills, who won his first collegiate dual match on Friday, jumped out to a quick lead and held on to win 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4 to remain undefeated in his young singles dual match career.
UNCA regained the lead shortly after when Joe May outplayed Dylan Higgins for the 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 4. Andrew Suesserman responded for KSU, defeating Nathan White 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 to earn his first collegiate dual match win and set up his brother to determine the winner of a 3-3 match.
"Tyler had a great weekend in singles and showed a lot of heart today," added Greggs. "Simon and Andrew had solid wins as well, and I am so proud of Simon for playing while ill and fighting it out in singles and giving us a chance to win."
The Owls will get another shot at their first win of the spring when they return to the KSU Tennis Complex on Friday February 13th for a match with Alabama A&M. Jacksonville State will follow A&M into town as they are scheduled for a Valentine's Day showdown with the Black and Gold.
"We grew up overnight but still have some more growing to do as a team, especially in doubles," concluded an optimistic Greggs. "I can't take anything but positives away from our team, as they fought hard, did the best they could, and came up just short."
Stay tuned to www.ksuowls.com for breaking news and updates of the Kennesaw State men's tennis program and the Black and Gold's other teams.
UNCA 4, KSU 3
Doubles Results
1) Correa/Brobech (UNCA) d. Mills/Higgins (KSU) 8-4
2) Nonnenbroich/May (UNCA) d. A. Suesserman/Janik (KSU) 8-4
3) White/Greer (UNCA) d. J. Suesserman/Washington (KSU) 9-8 (4)
Singles Results
1) Mauricio Correa (UNCA) d. Lawrence Washington (KSU) 6-4, 6-1
2) Tyler Mills (KSU) d. Nicolai Nonnenbroich (UNCA) 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4
3) Simon Janik (KSU) d. Jonas Brobech (UNCA) 6-4, 6-3
4) Joe May (UNCA) d. Dylan Higgins 6-1, 6-4
5) Andrew Suesserman d. Nathan White (UNCA) 6-4, 6-1
6) AlexanderGreer (UNCA) d. Justin Suesserman 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9)
