BATON ROUGE — The 12th-ranked LSU men’s tennis team picked up its third straight win on Wednesday with a 7-0 victory over Southeastern Conference foe Alabama.
The win improved LSU to 11-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. The Crimson Tide fell to 5-8, including a 2-3 league mark.
“We played a complete match against a good team,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “This was probably the first complete match we have played this season. It is encouraging to win 7-0 and still know there is room for improvement.”
LSU dominated the match as the Tigers won five of the six singles matches in straight sets and cruised in doubles to take the point.
Freshman Jesse Smatt got the ball rolling for LSU with his quick 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4 over Alabama’s Alphonso Perez.
Playing for the first time in three matches, senior Ed Rubin followed Smatt with a quick win. Rubin defeated Brian Isern 6-4, 6-3 at No. 6 as LSU jumped to a 3-0 lead.
With his 102nd career win, Tom Hand clinched the match at No. 2 singles. He outhit Alabama’s Maxim Belski 6-3, 7-5.
With the outcome of the match decided, Michal Chmela finished off two-time all-American Francisco Rodriguez, 7-6 (4), 6-1 at the No. 1 spot.
Sophomore Dan Kiernan, the only Tiger forced to a third set, then took care of Chris McRae 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 pushing the LSU advantage to 6-0.
Finishing off the shutout was junior Ajay Ramaswami. Playing No. 3, Ramaswami ran his team-best dual record to 12-1 with a 7-6 (6), 7-5 win over Susheel Narla.
“A lot of the guys are getting comfortable with their positions and it is beginning to pay off,” said Brown. “Ajay is settling in to the No. 3 spot very well and Dan and Jesse each got big wins today.”
In doubles, LSU took the point for the 11th time in 12 matches to get out to a quick 1-0 lead. The team of Hand-Rubin clinched the point.
March 22, 2000
Baton Rouge, La.
SINGLES
No. 1 – #35 Michal Chmela (LSU) def. #23 Francisco Rodriguez (UA), 7-6 (4), 6-1
No. 2 – #20 Tom Hand (LSU) def. Maxim Belski (UA), 6-3, 7-5*
No. 3 – Ajay Ramaswami (LSU) def. Susheel Narla (UA), 7-6 (6), 7-5
No. 4 – Jesse Smatt (LSU) def. Alphonso Perez (UA), 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 – Dan Kiernan (LSU) def. Chris McRae (UA), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
No. 6 – Ed Rubin (LSU) def. Brian Isern (UA), 6-4, 6-3
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Rodriguez-Belski (UA) def. #21 Chmela-Kiernan (LSU), 9-8 (5)
No. 2 – Hand-Rubin (LSU) def. Narla-McRae (UA), 8-6*
No. 3 – Smatt-Ramaswami (LSU) def. Isern-Boyles (UA), 8-4