TULSA, Okla. — James Cluskey of the LSU men’s tennis team fell in hard fought match against SMU’s Robin Fahgen on Monday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
Cluskey took on No. 15 seed Robin Fahgen to pull ahead in a close first set, 7-6 (6). The 6-6 senior faltered in the second set, allowing Fahgen to pull even with a 6-3 mark. The match was decided in the third set, as Fahgen narrowly edged out Cluskey, 7-5.
“James played well and showed improvement from last year,” head coach Jeff Brown said. “He will have another opportunity tomorrow in the consolation.”
Cluskey will next take on New Mexico State’s Eddie Salas in an 8 a.m. match Tuesday in the consolation bracket at Cascia Hall before joining teammate Michael Venus in the doubles main draw. The Tiger tandem is No. 5 in preseason rankings and finished last season at No. 16. The two compiled an overall 16-6 record for the 2007-08 season.
D’Novo All-American Qualifying Rounds
Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 6-8
All Times Central
Round of 128
Oct. 6
Robin Fahgen (SMU) def. James Cluskey (LSU), 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5
Consolation Round
Oct. 7
James Cluskey (LSU) vs. Eddie Salas (New Mexico State), 8 a.m.