AUBURN, Ala.— LSU men’s tennis team concluded its run at the ITA Southern Regional after three Tigers advanced to the round of 16 Saturday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
The tennis team returns to action Friday, Oct. 28 at the Player’s Choice Open in Birmingham, Alabama.
“This was a productive tournament for our team,” head coach Jeff Brown said. “The veterans got in some match repetitions, and the young guys stepped up.”
To open the day, senior Justin Butsch, sophomore Nikola Samardzic and freshman Rafael Wagner defeated each of his opponents in three sets in the round of 32, propelling the trio into the singles round of 16.
No. 48 Butsch took a hard-fought, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, win against Mississippi State’s Trevor Foshey. Samardzic topped Troy’s Andy Laer, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and Wagner defeated Alabama’s Matt Ross, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Butsch fell in three sets to Tulane’s Sebastian Ray, 4-6, 6-0, 6-0, in the round of 16, and Samardzic dropped his match to Ole Miss’ Tim Sandkaulen, 6-4, 7-5. Wagner retired due to injury in his match against Tulane’s Constantin Schmitz.
In the round of 32, #35 Jordan Daigle fell in straight sets, 4-6, 2-6, to Straninja Rakic of Mississippi State. Conner Huertas of Auburn defeated #125 Gabor Csonka, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Tuki Jacobs of South Alabama took the match from Agie Moreno, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, fans can follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennis and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsutennis.
2016 ITA Southern Regional
Oct. 14-17 at Auburn, Ala. (Yarbrough Tennis Center)
Saturday, Oct. 15
Doubles Round of 16
Tim Sandkaulen/Gustau Hansson (Ole Miss) def. Julian Saborio/Gabor Csonka (LSU), 8-5
Singles Round of 32
Straninja Rakic (Mississippi State) def. #35 Jordan Daigle (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
#48 Justin Butsch (LSU) def. Trevor Foshey (Mississippi State), 6-7, 7-6, 6-3
Conner Huertas (Auburn) def. #125 Gabor Csonka (LSU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
Nikola Samardzic (LSU) def. Andy Laer (Troy), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Tuki Jacobs (South Alabama) def. Agie Moreno (LSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
Rafael Wagner (LSU) def. Matt Rossouw (Alabama), 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Singles Round of 16
Tim Sandkaulen (Ole Miss) def. Nikola Samardzic (LSU), 6-4, 7-5
Sebastian Ray (Tulane) def. Justin Butsch (LSU), 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
Constantin Schmitz (Tulane) def. Rafael Wagner (LSU), 7-5, 2-0, ret. injury
Singles Consolation Second Round
Sam Messen (Nicholls State) def. Julian Saborio (LSU), 6-3, 6-1