COLUMBUS, Oho — LSU’s doubles pair of James Cluskey and Ken Skupski advanced to the semifinal of ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships on Friday morning.
In the round of 16, Cluskey and Skupski went back and forth with the 21st-ranked team of San Diego State’s Markus Dichardt and Christian Groh. The LSU duo fought off its feisty opposition as they won the match by a 9-7 decision.
“James and Ken did a really good job attacking their opponent early and when they fell behind they showed good bounce-back ability,” LSU associate head coach Mark Booras said. “James especially did a good job of raising his play today to secure the win.”
Cluskey and Skupski will now face a familiar foe in their semifinal match as they face off against the No. 9-ranked team of John Isner and Luis Flores of Georgia.
Tomorrow’s semifinal match will mark the second time this season the 28th-ranked doubles team has reached an ITA semifinal. The Tiger tandem reached the doubles semifinal of the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championship in October.
In singles play, Skupski picked up his sixth win of the season as he knocked off Arvid Purnanen in three sets in the consolation bracket. Purnanen was forced to retire in the third set due to injuiry.
The Liverpool, England, native will continue play in the singles consolation bracket Saturday when he takes on Radford’s Martin Sayer.
“I feel our guys match up well with Georgia’s team and it should be an exciting match tomorrow,” Booras said. “James and Ken are playing with a lot of confidence right now and hopefully that will show on the court in tomorrow’s matches.”
ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
November 3, 2006
Doubles
Quarterfinals
#28 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #21 Markus Dichardt/Christian Groh (SDSU), 9-7
Singles Consolation
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #34 Arvid Purnanen (Virginia Tech), 6-7(7), 6-1, 3-2 (ret. due to injury)
November 4, 2006
Schedule of Play
Doubles
Semifinal
#28 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. #9 John Isner/Luis Flores (Georgia), 9 a.m.
Singles Consolation
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. #22 Martin Sayer (Radford), not before 11:30 a.m.