Tide Changes with Szatmary's Win

Tuscaloosa, Ala. ? Coming off a disappointing day of competition on Friday, senior Adrian Szatmary stepped up his play on Saturday, defeating Alabama’s Joseph Jung, who is ranked 35th nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

 

Szatmary was defeated in the first set against Jung, 1-6, but quickly regained his composure to come back and defeat Jung 6-2 in the second set, and 1-0(10-8) in the third, tiebreaker set.  The victory over Jung marks the highest ranked opponent that Szatmary has defeated this season.

 

“This victory will hopefully earn Adrian a national ranking,” head coach Kerry McDermott said.  “He’s played hard this fall and has beaten very strong opponents, but this win should hopefully bolster him into the ITA rankings going into the spring season.”

 

Leading the Huskers on Friday with a 2-0 start, Hendrik Stahmer worked hard on Saturday to win the first set against Alabama’s Mathieu Thibaudeau, but ultimately fell to Thibaudeau in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 0-1(10-7).

 

After facing Alabama in singles competition Saturday morning, the Huskers then geared up in the afternoon to again face the Crimson Tide, but this time in the doubles competition.

 

Although it was the team of Szatmary and Mark Tate that led the Huskers to two victories in doubles on Friday, Saturday brought victories to two different Husker pairings.  Facing Alabama’s team of Javier Bes and Billy Mertz was the duo of senior James Clow and freshman Francois Van Impe.  Clow and Van Impe pushed themselves all the way through the match and defeated the Alabama pair 8-6.  Another Husker victory came from the team of senior Arturo Navarro and sophomore Stahmer.  This Husker duo commandingly defeated Alabama’s Jordie Kindervater and Saketh Myneni, 8-1.

 

To conclude play on Saturday, the Huskers faced Miami in singles competition where Stahmer and Karl Jones both came away with victories.  While Stahmer defeated Miami’s Hector Nieto in just two sets, 6-4, 7-5, Jones sent the match against J.C. Whitner to three sets after falling in the first set 1-6, and coming back to win the match 6-4, 1-0(10-5).  With singles competition complete, Stahmer comes away with the best tournament record for the Huskers at 3-1.

 

“Hendrik continues to prove himself as a strong singles competitor,” McDermott said.  “This has been a good tournament for us as coaches to see what he is capable of and we are pleased with what we see.”

 

The Huskers are now 4-4 in doubles action and 7-21 in singles play at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships and will conclude tournament play Sunday morning against Miami in doubles.

 

Singles

Adrian Szatmary (NU) def. Joseph Jung (UA) 1-6,6-2, 1-0 (10-8)
Billy Mertz (UA) def. James Clow (NU) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (10-8)
Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Hendrik Stahmer (NU) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
Dan Buikema (UA) def. Mark Tate (NU) 6-3, 6-4
Javier Bus (UA) def. Arturo Navarro (NU) 6-0, 6-1
Saketh Myneni (UA) def. Francois Van Impe (NU) 6-4, 2-1 ret.
Taylor Striplin (UA) def. Karl Jones (NU) 6-3, 6-4
Jordie Kindervater (UA) def. Sean Coetzee (NU) 6-2, 6-1

 

Daniel Vallverdu (UM) def. Adrian Szatmary (NU) 6-0, 6-4

Vivek Subramanian (UM) def. James Clow (NU) 7-5, 1-6, 1-0(10-5)

Hendrik Stahmer (NU) def. Hector Nieto (UM) 6-4, 7-5

Josip Rupena (UM) def. Mark Tate (NU) 6-0, 7-6

Barnabas Carrega (UM) def. Arturo Navarro (NU) 1-6, 7-6, 1-0(10-7)

Karl Jones (NU) def. J.C. Whitner (UM) 1-6, 6-4, 1-0(10-5)

Westin Wendt (UM) def. Sean Coetzee (NU) 6-4, 6-1

 

Doubles
Buikema/Thibaudeau (UA) def. Tate/Szatmary (UA) 8-3
Clow/Van Impe (NU) def. Bes/Mertz (UA) 8-6
Navarro/Stahmer (NU) def. Kindervater/Myneni (UA) 8-1
Jung/Striplin (UA) def. Coetzee/Jones (NU) 8-1