BATON ROUGE — The ninth-ranked LSU men’s tennis team used an inspired effort on Tuesday afternoon on Senior Day to defeat Auburn 4-3 at “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
“Michal (Chmela), Ajay (Ramaswami), Jesse (Smatt), and (Dan) Kiernan really played their hearts out for our seniors today,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “Their effort was unbelievable today.”
Seniors Chmela, Tom Hand, who did not play because of injury, and Ed Rubin will walk away from LSU having won their final home match. They leave as at least the eighth winningest class in LSU history, and they could still move up as high as second.
“I just have to thank all three of our seniors for the effort they have put in over the past four years. They have taken this program to the next level with their commitment and really given LSU tennis more national attention,” said Brown.
Fittingly, Chmela, who won in both singles and doubles on the day, clinched the match at No. 1 with his come-from-behind 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over 92nd-ranked Stephen Huss.
Ramaswami and Smatt also won in singles to set up Chmela’s clinching victory. Ramaswami upset No. 83 Mark Kovacs at No. 2 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 while Smatt beat Andra Boz in straight sets at No. 5, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
The Tigers opened the match by winning the doubles points with wins at Nos. 1 and 3. Chmela and Dan Kiernan won at No. 1, 8-5, over Huss and Kovacs.
The newly formed team of Anthony Mateljan and Ed Rubin clinched the point at No. 3 with their 9-8 (2) win over Estevan Strecker and Marcel Mizerski.
“Michal and Dan got us rolling in doubles today and Ed and Anthony were able to finish them off. We didn’t necessarily play our best tennis today but we got it done and that is what it is all about,” said Brown.
LSU will be on the road for the final two matches of the regular season this weekend against Kentucky and Georgia.
#9 LSU 4, #32 Auburn 3
April 11, 2000
Baton Rouge, La.
SINGLES
No. 1 – #28 Michal Chmela (LSU) def. #92 Stephen Huss (AU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 – Ajay Ramaswami (LSU) def. #83 Mark Kovacs (AU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
No. 3 – #46 George Matijasevic (AU) def. Dan Kiernan (LSU), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 1-0, ret.
No. 4 – #79 Tiago Ruffoni (AU) def. Ed Rubin (LSU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 – Jesse Smatt (LSU) def. Andra Boz (AU), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
No. 6 – Estevan Stricker (AU) def. Anthony Mateljan (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
DOUBLES
No. 1 – #14 Chmela-Kiernan (LSU) def. Matijasevic-Ruffoni (AU), 8-5
No. 2 – #28 Huss-Kovacs (AU) def. Ramaswami-Smatt (LSU), 8-5
No. 3 – Mateljan-Rubin (LSU) def. Strecker-Mizerski (AU), 9-8 (2)