NEW ORLEANS — The doubles teams of Danny Bryan and Colt Gaston, and James Cluskey and Ken Skupski of the LSU men’s tennis team advanced to the doubles semifinals of the SEC Coaches Indoor Championships at Rivercenter Racquet and Health Club on Saturday.
“It looks like Danny and Colt picked up where they left off last year,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “Ken and Jim are beginning to prove that they are one of the top teams in the country. Both of our teams will face some tough competition tomorrow.”
Bryan and Gatson went shot for shot in the early goings of their match against No. 28 ranked Pete Necajevs and Artem Kuznetsov of Mississippi State. With the score tied 4-all, the Tiger tandem went on to win the next four games to take the match, 8-4.
Cluskey and Skupski cruised to an 8-2 victory over Georgia’s Ricardo Gonzales and Christian Vitulli in the doubles quarterfinals. They will face another Georgia team, John Isner and Josh Varela, tomorrow in the semifinals.
The Tigers had a rough start to begin the day as all four Tigers competing in singles were eliminated.
In the “A” draw, defending singles champion Skupski’s shot at a third-straight title ended when he was defeated by No. 35 ranked Kaden Hensel of Tennessee, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
After losing his first set against Erling Tveit of Ole Miss, Bryan fired back taking the second set by a 6-2 count. The New Orleans native’s valiant effort fell short as he lost the third set, 6-4.
Kevin Dessauer fell in straight sets against No. 22 ranked Helgeson of Georgia, 6-1, 6-4.
In the “B” draw, senior Eric DeRoche was defeated by Georgia’s Varela, 6-4, 6-2.
Martel Campbell picked up two wins in consolation play and newcomer Jan Zelezny also picked up a victory in his consolation match.
Georgia and Tennessee dominated the singles competition as the six remaining singles players will be represented by the two schools. Georgia’s Helgeson, Isner and Matic Omerzel along with Tennessee’s Hensel will continue to fight for the singles title on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Georgia’s Ricardo Gonzales and Tennessee’s Derek Stephens will battle for the “B” draw title.
Play is set to resume Sunday at 9 a.m.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Results/Schedule
Singles “A” Draw
Round of 16
No.35 Kaden Hensel (UT) def. (2) No. 9 Ken Skupski (LSU), 7-6 (4), 6-2
(4) No. 22 Travis Helgeson (UGA) def. Kevn Dessauer (LSU), 6-1, 6-4
(8) No. 40 Erling Tveit (UM) def. No. 68 Danny Bryan (LSU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Consolation
Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. Houssam Yassine (UA), 6-2, 6-2
Singles “B” Draw
Quarterfinals
Josh Varela (UGA) def. Eric DeRoche (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
Consolation
Martel Campbell (LSU) def. Taylor Striplin (UA), 6-4, 3-0 (retired – injury)
Martel Campbell (LSU) def. Eric Lim (MSU), 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
Doubles Quarterfinals
(5) Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston (LSU) def. (4) No. 28 Pete Necajevs/ Artem Kuznetsov (MSU), 8-4
(1) No. 3 Ken Skupski/James Cluskey (LSU) def. Ricardo Gonzales/Christian Vitullu (UGA), 8-2
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Schedule
Doubles Semifinals
(5) Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston vs. (6) Travis Helgeson/Matic Omerzel (UGA), TBD
(1) No. 3 Ken Skupski/James Cluskey (LSU) vs. John Isner/Josh Varela (UGA), TBD