COLUMBUS, Oho — LSU’s doubles duo of James Cluskey and Ken Skupski were knocked out of the ITA National Intercollegiate Championships on Saturday as they fell in the semifinal.
The Tiger tandem finished the fall season with a 5-2 record as a doubles team. The duo is currently ranked 28th in the nation and LSU associate head coach Mark Booras said he believes the duo accomplished some things that will help push them in the rakings.
“Ken and James have done a good job this fall and have defiantly placed themselves in position to move up in the rankings,” Booras said. “They will have a lot of confidence heading into next semester.”
Cluskey and Skupski struggled to gain the momentum in their semifinal match as the No. 9-ranked team of John Isner and Luis Flores of Georgia defeated them, 8-4.
Skupski turned it around in the singles consolation bracket as he picked up two wins to advance to the finals on Sunday. In his first match, the Liverpool, England, native battled back from a first set loss against Redford’s Martin Sayer to take the next two sets and the match.
In his second match, Skupski got some revenge for his doubles loss as he defeated No. 13th-ranked Flores in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. The win is Skupski’s 92nd of his career and moves him past former Tiger Zak Blanchard for 9th in school history.
“In both matches Skupski picked it up a notch after he lost a set,” Booras said. “He showed great composure in finding a way to win today.”
Skupski will face Arnau Brugues of Tulsa at 10 a.m. on Sunday in the consolation final.
ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
November 4, 2006
Results
Doubles
Semifinal
#9 John Isner/Luis Flores (UGA) def. #28 #28 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU), 8-4
Singles Consolation
Quarterfinals
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #22 Martin Sayer (Radford), 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-2
Semifinals
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #13 Luis Flores (UGA), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
November 5, 2006
Schedule
Singles Consolation
Finals
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. Arnau Brugues (Tulsa), 10 a.m