University of Oregon
UAB
Blazers Get Past Ducks, 5-2
03/30/07 | Men's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. -- Marcos Verdasco ended a five-game losing streak at the top position for the Ducks and Ric Mortera won a close three set match, but the rest of the team would struggle as the Ducks fell, 5-2, to the Alabama Birmingham Blazers Thursday afternoon in a neutral site match on the campus of UC Irvine.
The Ducks added the match just recently, after they found out they had an open date on their schedule left.
Verdasco had struggled recently at the top spot for the Ducks, but won convincingly over Thomas Weiss on Thursday, 6-1, 6-4. The freshman's last victory came on February 17 against Jan Macek of Santa Clara University.
"As a freshman, it's been difficult for Marcos to play against more experienced competition at the No. 1 position in our lineup," director of tennis Nils Schyllander said. "But it was good to see him get back on track today and hopefully this will give him some momentum heading into this tough weekend against USC and UCLA."
Mortera defeated Tim Bauer at the No. 3 position after dropping the first set. The Portland, Ore. native, rallied for the 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Even with the loss, the Ducks had their chances to gain the momentum needed to win the match.
Alex Cornellissen and Stephen Wiechert were paired together at the No. 2 doubles position and got a win for the Ducks, 8-6, but the doubles point would be decided at the top spot, where Verdasco and Francisco Gallardo would ultimately fall, 9-8.
"It seemed like we didn't have alot of energy in doubles, and it was unfortunate that we lost that point, " Schyllander said. "That ended up being the real difference in the match. If we get that point and then one more singles match, we come out on top."
The Ducks continue their packed weekend as they take on UCLA Friday at 1 p.m.
UAB 5, Oregon 2
Doubles:
No. 1: Adrian Tollstam/Kruno Despotovski (UAB) def. Marcos Verdasco/Francisco Gallardo, 9-8
No. 2: Alexander Cornelissen/Stephen Wiechert (UO) def. Tim Bauer/Johannes Spangenburger (UAB), 8-6
No. 3: Alex Emery/Thomas Weiss (UAB) def. Geoff Embry/Ric Mortera (UO), 8-5
Singles:
No. 1 : Verdasco (UO) def. Weiss (UAB), 6-1, 6-4
No. 2: Spangenburger (UAB) def. Cornelissen (UO) 6-4, 7-6
No. 3: Mortera (UO) def. Bauer (UAB), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 4: Despotovski (UAB) def. Mike Myrhed (UO), 3-6, 7-5, 10-2
No. 5: Emery (UAB) def. Embry (UO), 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
No. 6: Thomas Petrich (UAB) def. Gallardo (UO), 6-2, 6-1
Players Mentioned
