Arkansas drops match to Alabama

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 42 University of Arkansas men's tennis team dropped its home conference opener to No.31 Alabama 6-1, at the Billingsley Tennis Center. Arkansas's record moves to 11-6 and 0-3 in the SEC. 

The Razorbacks got off to a strong start taking the doubles point from the Crimson Tide. Juniors Mike Nott and Manfred Jeske dominated court one winning the first match for the Hogs 8-4. Santiago Munoz and Hall Fess clinched the doubles point for the Razorbacks with an 8-6 win over Stuart Kenyon and Philippe Tsangarides. 

The Razorbacks could not continue their momentum from doubles play into singles and struggled, dropping the first sets on five of the six courts. Senior Gregoire Lehmann was the lone Razorback to take the first set from his opponent, winning in a tiebreak. 

The Razorbacks fell on courts 4, 5 and 6 to give Alabama the 3-1 lead. Arkansas battled back on courts 1, 2 and 3 with senior Mike Ward winning a second-set tiebreak to force a third set on court three. Jeske also battled in the second set, but fell to Proskura in a long tough set giving Alabama its fourth point and the win.

Arkansas is back in action Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. and will host No. 37 Auburn. The first 150 fans will receive and Arkansas Razorback lapel pin. 

For more information on Razorback men's tennis follow @RazorbackMTEN on Twitter.

#42 Arkansas 1, #31 Alabama 6

Complete Singles Results:

1.  Jarryd Botha (ALA)def. Gregoire Lehmann (ARK) 7-6, 3-6, 1-6

2. Daniil Proskura (ALA) def. Manfred Jeske (ARK) 6-2, 5-7

3. B. O'Shaughnessey (ALA) def. Mike Ward B O'Shaughnessey 6-2, 6-7, 6-2

4. Philippe Tsangarides (ALA) def. Mike Nott (ARK) 6-2, 6-4

5. David Vierya (ALA) def. Victor Hoang (ARK) 6-2, 4-6

6. Stuart Kenyon (ALA) def. Hall Fess (ARK) 6-3, 6-1

Complete Doubles Results:

• 1. Nott/Jeske (ARK) def. Botha/Vierya (ALA) 8-4
• 2. Ward/Lehmann (ARK) vs. O'Shaughnessey/Proskura (ALA) DNF 7-7
• 3. Munoz/Fess (ARK) def. Kenyon/Tsangarides (ALA) 8-6