LEXINGTON, Ky. — LSU men’s tennis players Dan Kiernan and Peter Richman were each victorious in their opening round matches on Thursday, as the Tiger netters each advanced to second-round action at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.
“Daniel played extremely well in his first match after a long holiday break,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “He came back from the holidays in good shape and just overpowered his opponent today. Peter played a more experienced player, but came out on top by using some very good serves and a good attacking style of play.”
Kiernan, the Tigers’ 42nd-ranked singles player in the nation, defeated Florida’s Hahn Troy in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center in Lexington, Ky. With the convincing win, Kiernan advanced to play Mississippi State’s David Ruiz in the second round on Friday.
LSU’s Richman, a highly-touted freshman from Toronto, Canada, outlasted Max Fomine from Mississippi State, 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4. The win improved Richman’s 2001-02 record to 10-4 and earned him a spot in the second round of the SEC Indoor Championships. Richman is scheduled to play Vanderbilt’s Lewis Smith on Friday.
“All of our guys played very well today,” Brown said. “They all competed and played hard against some of the toughest competition in the nation. I also think that Daniel and Richman did an outstanding job and really put themselves in good position to advance further.”
The Tigers’ Brandon Nicholson, Sebastian Rutka, Jesse Smatt, Jason Hazley, and 85th-ranked Bryan Fisher were all defeated in first-round action on Thursday. Fisher was forced to retire in the second set of his match against Trey Johnston of Florida due a pulled muscle in his leg. His injury is not severe, but will keep him from competing in the consolation rounds of the SEC Indoor Championships.
In doubles play, LSU’s combination of Rutka and Richmond defeated South Carolina’s pair comprised of Angelo Nicolescu and Marcus Westman, 8-6. The Tigers’ pair then fell in the second round of the doubles championship to Kentucky’s Karim Benmansour and Evan Austin by a count of 8-2.
LSU’s Kiernan and Richman will each continue their quests for the SEC Indoor championship title on Friday as singles play is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. in Lexington, Ky.
SEC Indoor Championships
Day One Results
Singles
#42 Dan Kiernan (LSU) def. Hahn Troy (UF), 6-2, 6-3.
Peter Richman (LSU) def. Max Fomine (MSU), 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4.
Trey Johnson (UF) def. #85 Bryan Fisher (LSU), 3-6 (ret).
Johan Grunditz (UK) def. Sebastian Rutka (LSU), 7-6(5), 6-4.
Angelo Nicolescu (USC) def. Jesse Smatt (LSU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Peter Handoyo (UT) def. Jason Hazley (LSU), 6-3, 6-4.
Eleazar Magallan (UF) def. Brandon Nicholson (LSU), 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles
Rutka/Richman (LSU) def. Niculescu/Westman (USC), 8-6.
Witten/Emory (UK) def. Hazley/Smatt (LSU), 9-7.
Mitchell/Gostek (UA) def. Kiernan/Nicholson (LSU), 8-4.
Austin/Benmansour (UK) def. Rutka/Richman (LSU), 8-6.