LEXINGTON, Ky. — The LSU men’s tennis team had six singles and two of its doubles team advance to the second round of the Southeast Regional ITA Fall Championships.
Danny Bryan, Martel Campbell, Eric DeRoche, Kevin Dessauer, Ken Skupski and Jan Zelezny all won their matches in two sets and will continue play in the Round of 64 on Saturday.
“It has been a great start so far and our guys have been focused throughout the day,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “They understand how serious this tournament is and have taken care of business in the early goings.”
Bryan handily defeated Florida A&M’s Clifford Malivert, 6-4, 6-2. Campbell and Zelezny defeated two fellow SEC competitors as they knocked off two Georgia Bulldogs. Campbell breezed past Chris Motes, 6-3, 6-1, and Zelezny eliminated Ricardo Gonzales, 7-5, 6-3.
Sophomore James Cluskey showed great effort in his match against No. 5-ranked Travis Helgeson from Georgia. The Ireland native took charge in the first set as he won by a 6-2 count. Cluskey could not continue his momentum as he lost the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2.
“James had a tougher draw then the other guys but it didn’t bother him,” Brown said. “He came out firing in the first set and worked hard, but Helgeson showed why he is a top 5 player.”
In doubles, Bryan and Zelezny took Vanderbilt’s James Moye and Nathan Sachs to a tiebreaker and held on to take a 9-8 (4) win. Cluskey and Dessauer breezed passed Georgia Southern’s Nejc Podkrajsek and Mattias Skod by an 8-2 count.
All Tigers still in the tournament will be competing in doubles and singles on Saturday.
2006 Wilson/ITA Region III Indoor Tournament
Main Draw Results/Schedule
October 20, 2006
Singles Results
Round of 128
Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. Ricardo Gonzales (UGA), 7-5, 6-3
#101 (20) Danny Bryan (LSU) def. Clifford Malivert (FAM), 6-4, 6-2
Martel Campbell (LSU) def. Chris Motes (UGA), 6-3, 6-1
#5 (1) Travis Helgeson (UGA) def. James Cluskey (LSU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Eric DeRoche (LSU) def. Adam Hubble (UT), 6-3, 6-4
Kevin Dessauer (LSU) def. Hunter Mills (AU), 6-4, 6-1
#12 (3) Ken Skupski (LSU) def. Dan Cash (UF), 7-6, 6-1
Doubles Results
Danny Bryan/Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. James Moye/Nathan Sachs (VU), 9-8 (6-4)
Dan Buikema/Matt Thibaudeau (UA) def. Martel Campbell/Eric DeRoche (LSU), 8-4
James Cluskey/Kevin Dessauer (LSU) def. Mauricio Engler/Richard Walsh (BSC), 8-2
October 21, 2006
Singles Schedule
Round of 64
#101 (20) Danny Bryan (LSU) vs. Nick Cromydas (VU), 4 p.m.
Martel Campbell (LSU) vs. (29) Martin Stiegwardt (GSU), 3 p.m.
Jan Zelezny (LSU) vs. #35 (7) Joseph Jung (UA), 5 p.m.
Eric DeRoche (LSU) vs. #26 (4)Greg Ouellette (UF), 3 p.m.
Kevin Dessauer (LSU) vs. #108 (22) Jamie Hunt (UGA), 5 p.m.
#12 (3) Ken Skupski (LSU) vs.Anze Cevka (GSU), 4:30 p.m.
Doubles Schedule
Round of 32
Danny Bryan/Jan Zelezny (LSU) vs. #56 Jordan Dolburg/Billy Mulligan (UF), 10 a.m.
James Cluskey/Kevin Dessauer (LSU) vs. Nejc Podkrajsek/Mattias Skold (GSU), 1 p.m.
# National ranking (No. seeded)