Tennis Hogs Sweep Vanderbilt 7-0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 20 Arkansas won their ninth doubles point of the season and never looked back, cruising past No. 62 Vanderbilt, 7-0, in a Southeastern Conference matchup at the Currey Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Arkansas (11-4, 2-1 SEC) is currently in a tie atop the SEC Western Division with Auburn and Ole Miss, heading into Sunday’s match at Kentuck.

The Razorbacks were making their first true road appearance of the 2006 season. UA, which is 4-2 in neutral court matches, won its first road match since Feb. 5, 2005 at Army. It was the first SEC road win for the Hogs since April 4, 2004, when they downed Auburn. Arkansas improved to 13-4 all-time against Vanderbilt (5-6, 0-3 SEC).

Friday was the first time since joining the SEC in 1992 the Razorbacks have swept a conference match.

The Razorbacks won their second consecutive SEC match. It is the first time since 2002 the Hogs, which defeated Tennessee Sunday March 5, have won consecutive conference matches. The Razorbacks won at Kentucky and at Vanderbilt in ’02, en route to a 15-10 record and a NCAA Tournament berth.

Arkansas won the doubles point for the ninth time this season. UA is 9-0 when claiming the doubles point, and Friday’s match was the second time in three conference matches the Hogs have won doubles.

The Hogs reached the early advantage by winning on courts three and two. At No. 3, the Razorback tandem of freshman Austin King and sophomore Colin Mascall posted a, 8-4, win over VU’s Jordan Magarik and Nick Cromydas. Vanderbilt bounced back with a win at No.1, but the Hogs 25th-ranked duo of freshman Blake Strode and senior Adrians Zguns clinched the doubles win for UA, 9-8, over Ryan Preston and Nathan Sachs.

Senior Matt Roberts quickly added another points for the Hogs in singles. The 46th-ranked Little Rock, Ark. product knocked off Andy Mack at No. 3 in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, to give UA a 2-0 lead. Zguns, ranked 15th, followed soon after with a, 6-4, 6-1, triumph over 55th-ranked Ryan Preston at No. 1. Mascall provided the clinching win at No. 5, downing Cromydas, 6-3, 6-4.

Roberts notched his 20th victory of the season, giving him back-to back 20 win seasons. He is 20-5 overall, 11-2 in dual matches and 3-0 in the SEC. Zguns is now 19-4 on the year, 11-1 in duals and 3-0 in league play. Mascall, a midseason transfer, is 8-5 as a Razorback., with three of those wins clinching UA victories.

Sophomore Michael Jung posted his team-high 21st victory at No. 6, bettering Jordan Magarik, 6-3, 3-6, 1-0. Strode, ranked 101st, added to the Arkansas tally at No. 4, defeating Sachs, 6-4, 6-4. Senior Rohan Gajjar, ranked 82nd, finished off the Razorback victory with his, 7-6 (4), 6-4, win over Evan Dufaux at No. 2.

Jung boosted his team-best record to 21-4. The Atlanta, Ga. native is 7-2 in dual matches and 1-0 in the SEC. Strode improved to 17-3 overall, 9-1 in duals and 2-1 in conference play, while Gajjar bettered his mark to 14-5 overall, 9-2 in duals and 2-1 in the SEC.

Arkansas is back in action Sunday when the travel to Lexington, Ky. to take on the 29th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. UA and UK are set for a 1 p.m. first serve at the Boone Varsity Tennis Courts in Lexington. For the latest Razorback updates, log on to www.hogwired.com.

#20 Arkansas , #62 Vanderbilt

March 10, 2006

Nashville, Tenn.

Doubles:

1. Evan Dufaux/Andy Mack (VU) def. #47 Matt Roberts/Rohan Gajjar (AR), 8-6

2. #25 Blake Strode/Adrians Zguns (AR) def. Ryan Preston/Nathan Sachs (VU), 9-8

3. Austin King/Colin Mascall (AR) def. Jordan Magarik/Nick Cromydas (VU), 8-4

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

Singles

1. #15 Adrians Zguns (AR) def. #55 Ryan Preston (VU), 6-4, 6-1

2. #82 Rohan Gajjar (AR) def. Evan Dufaux (VU), 7-6 (4), 6-4

3. #46 Matt Roberts (AR) def. Andy Mack (VU), 6-2, 6-1

4. #101 Blake Strode (AR) def. Nathan Sachs (VU), 6-4, 6-5 ret.

5. Colin Mascall (AR) def. Nick Cromydas (VU), 6-3, 6-4

6. Michael Jung (AR) def. Jordan Magarik, 6-3, 3-6, 1-0

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 5*, 6, 4, 2

Match Notes:

#20 Arkansas (11-4, 2-1 SEC), #62 Vanderbilt (5-6, 0-3 SEC)

Clinchers – No. 2 doubles, No. 5 singles

Download: 2006 Tennis Stats.pdf