TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 21st-ranked LSU men’s tennis team won a crucial Southeastern Conference match on Saturday when it beat No. 22 Alabama, 5-2, at the Varsity Courts in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 13-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play. The Crimson Tide fall to 15-6 on the year, including a 3-5 SEC mark.
“We did a good job to get a win over a tough Alabama team on the road today,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown. “They have been playing well and beating a lot of good teams, but we came out today and played well from top to bottom and got a good victory.”
LSU started off strong in doubles by winning at Nos. 1 and 3. The 25th-ranked duo of Dan Kiernan and Sebastian Rutka beat William Boyles and Stephen Mitchell, 8-2, on court one while Anthony Mateljan and Ajay Ramaswami beat Chris McRae and Chris Gostek, 8-5, at No. 3.
In singles, the Tigers dominated, winning four of the six matches, including three in straight sets. Ramaswami, ranked 13th nationally, blasted No. 39 Maxim Belski at the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 6-2.
Kiernan and Rutka each won a first set tiebreaker before scoring two-set victories. Kiernan beat Susheel Narla, 7-6 (5), 6-3 at No. 2 and Rutka upended Stephen Mitchell by an identical score on court 4.
Anthony Mateljan picked up the other point for LSU as he rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Christian Broderson at No. 6 singles.
The Tigers will face conference-rival Ole Miss on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at “Dub” Robinson Stadium on Senior day. It will be the final home match for seniors Ajay Ramaswami and Jonathan Hurd.
LSU 5, Alabama 2
Singles
No. 1 – Ajay Ramswami (LSU) def. Max Belski (UA) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 – Dan Kiernan (LSU) def. Susheel Narla (UA) 7-6 (5), 6-3
No. 3 – Chris Gostek (UA) def. Sanjin Sadovich (LSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 – Sebastian Rutka (LSU) def. Stephen Mitchell (UA) 7-6(5), 6-3
No. 5 – Chris McRae (UA) def. Jesse Smatt (LSU) 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
No. 6 – Anthony Mateljan (LSU) def. Christian Brodersen (UA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 – Kiernan/Rutka (LSU) def. William Boyles/Mitchell (UA) 8-2
No. 2 – Belski/Narla (UA) def. Smatt/Sodovich (LSU) 8-3
No. 3 – Mateljan/Ramswami (LSU) def. McRae/Gostek (UA) 8-5