Doubles Sparks Hog Netters to Road Win at Auburn 6-1
AUBURN, Ala. – Arkansas’ doubles and strong play throughout its singles lineup led the No. 12 Razorbacks to a 6-1 win over No. 55 Auburn Friday at the Luther Young Tennis Complex in Auburn, Ala.
The win puts Arkansas at 14-7 overall and 5-4 in the SEC. It is UA’s third SEC road win of the season, and gives the Razorbacks a 3-1 conference road record. The Hogs remain in third-place in the SEC Western Division and sixth overall.
Arkansas captured the doubles point and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. The Razorback team of seniors Matt Roberts and Rohan Gajjar claimed a win at No. 1, while sophomore Colin Mascall and freshman Austin King clinched the doubles point at No. 3.
The doubles win marks the 12th time the Razorbacks have won doubles this season, with a perfect 12-0 record in those matches.
Roberts and Gajjar improve to 12-7 this season and 3-4 in the SEC, while King and Mascall better their mark to 8-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Roberts gave the Hogs more cushion with his win at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-1, over Milan Krnjetin, pushing the Hog lead to 2-0. The 57th-ranked Little Rock, Ark. native improves to 23-8 this season, 14-5 in dual matches and 6-3 in the SEC.
Freshman Blake Strode added to the Razorback advantage with a, 6-3, 6-1, triumph over Pawel Dilaj at No. 4, making the score 3-0. It was the fourth consecutive win for Strode, ranked 124th nationally, and the seventh in his last nine matches. The St. Louis, Mo. product is 21-5 this season, 13-3 in duals and 6-3 in conference action.
Auburn closed the gap to 3-1 when the Tigers’ Nick Lane upset the 93rd-ranked Gajjar, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 2. The loss snaps a three-match win streak for Gajjar, and the Mumbai, India native is now 17-7 this season, 12-4 in duals and 5-3 in the SEC.
Mascall provided the clinching win for the Hogs at No. 5, fighting back from down a set to defeat Lukas Marsoun, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. It was the fourth time this season Mascall has clinched a victory for the Razorbacks. Mascall is 11-7 this season and 4-4 in the SEC.
Senior Adrians Zguns notched the 99th victory of his career at No.1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 over Robbert Lathouwers. Zguns, ranked 22nd, is now one win shy of becoming just the fourth player in school history to record 100 wins in his career. The Liepaja, Latvia native is 21-7 this season, 13-4 in duals and 5-3 in the SEC, and his win Friday snapped a three-match losing streak.
King fought from down a set to post a win at No. 6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, over Terence Nugent, and rounded out the Razorback victory. King, of Rogers, Ark., is 10-4 this season, 3-1 in duals and 2-0 in the SEC.
Arkansas will look for a weekend sweep of the state of Alabama Sunday when it travels to Tuscaloosa to battle the Alabama Crimson Tide. The match is set for a 1 p.m. first serve at the University of Alabama Tennis Complex. For live stats, log on to www.hogwired.com.
#20 Arkansas 6, #55 Auburn 1
April 7, 2006
Auburn, Ala.
Doubles:
1. Matt Roberts/Rohan Gajjar (AR) def. Robbert Lathouwers/Lukas Marsoun (AU), 8-5
2. #44 Blake Strode/Adrians Zguns (AR) vs. Nick Lane/Pawel Dilaj (AU), 6-5 (susp.)
3. Austin King/Colin Mascall (AR) def. Milan Krnjetin/Terence Nugent (AU), 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. #22 Adrians Zguns (AR) def. Robbert Lathouwers (AU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
2. Nick Lane (AU) def. #93 Rohan Gajjar (AR), 7-5, 6-3
3. #57 Matt Roberts (AR) def. Milan Krnjetin (AU), 6-3, 6-1
4. #124 Blake Strode (AR) def. Pawel Dilaj (AU), 6-3, 6-1
5. Colin Mascall (AR) def. Lukas Marsoun (AU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Austin King (AR) vs. Terence Nugent (AU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 2, 5*, 1, 6
