BATON ROUGE — The ninth-ranked LSU men’s tennis team dominated No. 8 SMU, 5-2, on Tuesday afternoon to win its eighth straight match.
“We got an NCAA tournament-like performance from our team today,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “Everybody stepped up and contributed in either singles or doubles and that is what it takes to win at this level.”
The win improved LSU to 16-2 on the season while SMU falls to 18-4. During the eight-match win streak, the Tigers have won by a combined score of 48-8.
“The key for us lately has been that everyone has become comfortable in their position. We haven’t had any guys being selfish. Everyone is beginning to understand their role on the team and that is turning into wins,” Brown said.
LSU won four of six singles matches on the day in straight sets in claiming the victory. Senior Tom Hand, ranked 22nd in the nation, upset No. 14 Toby Hansson 7-6 (7), 6-1 at No. 1 singles to win his 34th match of the season. His 34 wins are tied for fifth in LSU history for wins in a season with Mark Shoptaugh and Johan Milbrinks.
Junior Ajay Ramaswami also pulled out an upset, his coming at the No. 4 spot. Ramaswami out-hit 57th-ranked Jon Wallmark for a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
The Tigers other victories came from Ed Rubin, who won easily at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-2, over Alexis Rudinsky, and Dan Kiernan, who breezed past Gerardo Mulas, 6-2, 6-3.
As it has done in 16 of 17 matches this season, LSU took the doubles point to start the match and gain a 1-0 lead. The No. 14 team of Chmela-Kiernan upset No. 9 Hansson-Wallmark 8-6 to clinch the point.
Ramaswami-Smatt won 8-3 over the team of Ryan Mauck-Vinay Venkataraghavan at No. 3 doubles to run their winning streak to 12 matches.
“We had another good day in doubles,” said Brown, “We didn’t take the point for granted and came out and worked hard to earn it. With the strong doubles players we have, it is good for us to be able to take advantage of the point.”
#9 LSU 5, #8 SMU 2
Baton Rouge, La.
April 4, 2000
SINGLES
No. 1 – #22 Tom Hand (LSU) def. #14 Toby Hansson (SMU), 7-6 (7), 6-1
No. 2 – Dustin Mauck (SMU) def. #28 Michal Chmela (LSU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 – Dan Kiernan (LSU) def. Gerardo Mulas (SMU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 – Ajay Ramaswami (LSU) def. #57 Jon Wallmark (SMU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 – #84 Genius Chidwizke (SMU) def. Jesse Smatt (LSU), 7-6 (7), 6-2
No. 6 – Ed Rubin (LSU) def. Alexis Rudinski (SMU), 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES
No. 1 – #14 Chmela-Kiernan (LSU) def. #9 Hansson-Wallmark (SMU), 8-6
No. 2 – Hand-Rubin (LSU) vs. D. Mauck-Chidzikwe (SMU), suspended
No. 3 – Ramaswami-Smatt (LSU) def. R. Mauck-Venkataraghavan (SMU), 8-3