HOUSTON — Three LSU men’s tennis players advanced to the second round of the singles competition on Friday at the 2002 Continental Airlines Cup hosted by Rice University here at the Kingwood Country Club.
“We got a lot of good work in today for our guys and they all played pretty well,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “We saw a lot of things that we have improved on over the summer and we still saw some things that we need to continue to work on. In this format it’s good that every guy will get to play at least three singles matches and three doubles matches this weekend, because it will only help us to improve.”
LSU junior Cory Ross defeated Texas’ Alastair Jenkins, 4-6,7-6(1), 6-3, in the B Flight singles tournament on Friday, while true freshmen Paul White and Frank Green advanced in the C Flight and D Flight singles events, respectively. White knocked off Rice’s Ramez Qamer, 7-6(4), 6-2, and Green breezed by Texas’ Joe Morris, 6-3, 6-0.
The Tigers’ doubles teams of Jason Hazley and White, along with Bryan Fisher and Peter Richman also advanced on Friday. LSU’s B Flight doubles team comprised of Brandon Nicholson and Cory Ross handily defeated Rice’s duo of Robb/Navinkov, 8-1.
The 2002 Continental Airlines Cup hosted by Rice University will resume on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the second round singles play here at the Kingwood Country Club. The second round of doubles play is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
2002 Rice Invitational
Singles Results
Flight A
Alejandro Tejerina (Tulsa) def. Bryan Fisher (LSU), 6-2, 7-5
Richard Baker (Rice) def. Jason Hazley (LSU), 7-6(2), 6-3
Flight B
Cory Ross (LSU) def. Alastair Jenkins (Texas), 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-3
Roger Gubser (Texas) def. Peter Richman (LSU), 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4
Flight C
Jimmy Haney (Texas) def. Brandon Nicholson (LSU), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Paul White (LSU) def. Ramez Qamer (Rice), 7-6(4), 6-2
Flight D
Joe Morris (Texas) def. Frank Green (LSU), 6-3, 6-0
Rafael Corazza (LSU) def. John Matthews (Tulsa), 6-4, 7-6(4)
Doubles Results
Flight A
Hazley/White (LSU) def. Barker/Rajevac (Rice), 8-5
Fisher/Richman (LSU) def. Haney/Stroer (Texas), 9-8(5)
Flight B
Nicholson/Ross (LSU) def. Robb/Navinkov (Rice), 8-1
Morita/Qamar (Rice) def. Corazza/Green (LSU), 8-5