MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The LSU men’s tennis team did not get off to a smooth start Friday, as the Tigers dropped nine of 10 matches in the singles main draw of the ITA Southeast Regional Championships.
Only freshman James Cluskey was able to garner a singles victory, defeating Alabama’s Billy Mertz, 6-3, 6-3. However, even Cluskey couldn’t continue his success, losing his second round battle with Ole Miss’s Pablo Di Ceasare, 6-3, 7-6.
The Tigers continued to struggle Thursday afternoon in the main doubles draw.
Eric Deroche and Jonathan Tragardh lost, 8-4, to Dilon Brozyna and Dirk Britzen, of South Florida. Jose Moncada and Paul White were beaten by Troy’s Marko Despot and Irving Morales, 8-3.
“It was just one of those days,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “There’s a lot that can be learned from a loss and certainly this was an experience that we can learn from and build on.”
LSU will have two doubles teams in action Saturday. Ken Skupski and James Cluskey will team up to face Andrew Felsenthal and Joseph Jung of Alabama, at 4:30 p.m. Danny Bryan and Colt Gaston will play Alabama’s Dan Buikema and Sammy Struyf at 4:00 p.m.
Wilson ITA Southeast Regional Championships
Singles Main Draw
Friday, Oct. 14
Round of 128
Jakob Klaeson (Ole Miss) def. Colt Gaston (LSU) 6-4; 7-6(4)
Kristijan Mitrovski (UAB) def. Paul White (LSU) 6-4; 4-6; 6-3
James Cluskey (LSU) def. Billy Mertz (Alabama) 6-3; 6-3
Marko Despot (Troy) def. Danny Bryan (LSU) 6-3; 7-5
Dan Buikema def. Eric Deroche (LSU) 6-4; 6-1
Vladimir Paunic (Southeast Louisiana) def. Jose Moncada (LSU) 6-4; 4-6; 6-3
Irving Morales (Troy) def. Will Lefevre (LSU) 6-1; 6-3
Jonathan Tragardh received a bye
Ken Skupski received a bye
Round of 64
Juan Pablo Di Cesare (Ole Miss) def. James Cluskey (LSU) 6-3, 7-6
David Baxendine (Tennessee) def. John Tragardh (LSU) 6-1, 6-1
Dirk Britzen (USF) def. No. 2 seed Ken Skupski (LSU) 5-7, 7-6, 6-4
Doubles Main Draw
Friday, October 14
Round of 64
Dirk Britzen/Dillon Brozyna (South Florida) def. Eric Deroche/Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) 8-4
Marko Despot/Irving Morales (Troy) def. Paul White/Jose Moncada (LSU) 8-3
Ken Skupski/James Cluskey (LSU) received a bye
Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston (LSU) received a bye
Saturday, October 15
Round of 32
Ken Skupski/James Cluskey vs. Andrew Felsenthatl/Joseph Jung (Alabama), 4:30 p.m.
Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston vs. Dan Buikema/ Sammy Struyf (Alabama) 4:00 p.m.