TULSA, Okla. — Juniors Kevin Dessauer and Jan Zelezny of the LSU men’s tennis team fell short of upsetting a top-50 team in the first round of doubles play at the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Qualifying as they were eliminated from the tournament.
“Tulsa’s team came out with a lot more confidence because of its recent success,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “Even though Kevin and Jan lost, they showed us some positive things that we can work with in the future.”
Dessauer and Zelezny struggled in the early goings of their match with the No. 48-ranked team of Tulsa’s Arnau Brugues and Federico Soriano falling behind 7-2. The Tiger tandem fought back notching the next three games putting them within two games, 7-5. Their late rally came to end as Tulsa’s veteran team won the match by an 8-5 count.
Senior Danny Bryan made sure he did not leave Tulsa empty handed as he picked up a straight-sets victory over Florida State’s Maciek Sykut in the one-match consolation round.
Also in the one-match consolation round, Zelezny lost in two sets to Baylor’s Matt Brown, 6-2, 7-5.
Senior Ken Skupski and sophomore James Cluskey are the two remaining Tigers in the tournament and are set to compete Thursday. No. 12-ranked Skupski is set for a top-25 singles match in the main draw when he faces No. 25-ranked Matko Maravic of Michigan. Additionally, Skupski will team up Cluskey in the main draw of the doubles portion of the tournament. The team they face will be determined after the doubles qualifying round is finished tomorrow night.
“I think Ken is really ready to get some more matches under his belt,” Brown commented. “He has been practicing really hard and should reap the rewards from his dedication.”
Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Qualifying
October 3, 2006
First Round Singles One Match Consolation Results
#101 Danny Bryan (LSU) def. Maciek Sykut (Florida State), 6-3, 6-3
#82 Matt Brown (Baylor) def. Jan Zelezny (LSU), 6-2, 7-5
First Round Doubles Results
#48 Brugues/Soriano (Tulsa) def. Dessauer/Zelezny (LSU), 8-5
Main Draw Schedule
October 5, 2006
Singles
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. #25 Matko Maravic (Michigan), 8 a.m.
Doubles
#28 Cluskey/Skupski (LSU) vs. James McGee/Jay Weinacker (NC State), 5:30 p.m.