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Men’s Tennis Concludes Bulldog Challenge

by Christian Verde
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Men’s Tennis Concludes Bulldog Challenge

Baton Rouge—The LSU men’s tennis team wrapped up the weekend-long Bulldog Challenge in Starkville, Miss, Sunday afternoon. The Tigers faced four SEC opponents over the weekend, those being Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Mississippi State. 

Day One 

LSU faced off Alabama with a few Ole Miss matches mixed on Friday morning. Senior Rafael Wagner and freshman Ronald Hohmann were the only duos to receive a win with a score of 3-4 after Alabama retired. Sophomore Tomas Descarrega and freshman Tom Pisane went to a tiebreak against Alabama but were defeated 9-8(6). Malik Bhatnagar and Ben Koch were defeated by Alabama and Nick Watson and Boris Kozlov were defeated by Ole Miss 8-1.  

Singles went better for the Tigers where they saw themselves walk away with three wins. Tom Pisane defeated Alabama in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Rafael Wagner followed suit and took down Ole Miss in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. Nick Watson received the win, yet it was a closer match, winning 7-6(4), 7-5. Boris Kozlov pushed his match to three sets but was defeated by Alabama, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Malik Bhatnagar was defeated by Alabama 6-3, 6-2. Ben Koch was defeated by Alabama 6-1, 6-4. Ronald Hohmann took on Ole Miss and pushed the first set to a tiebreak, but fell and was defeated 7-6(4), 6-4. Tomas Descarrega lost the first set 6-3 and pushed the second set to a tiebreak, but fell to Alabama 6-3, 7-6(3). 

Day Two 

Day Two saw the Tigers taking on a foe from the Oli Borsos Invitational in Mississippi State. LSU swept the day in doubles, going a perfect 4-0. Hohmann/Wagner won in dominant fashion over Mississippi State, 6-1. Bhatnagar/Koch went to a tiebreak but came out on top over MSU, winning 7-6(2). Watson/Kozlov also went to a tiebreak and just like the match before, won 7-6(6). Descarrega/Pisane finished the sweep in doubles, defeating Ole Miss 8-4. 

Singles didn’t go the Tigers way, seeing themselves walk away with two wins out of the eight matches. Tomas Descarrega went to a tiebreak in both sets and won both, defeating Ole Miss 7-6(3), 7-6(2). Ben Koch breezed through his match with Ole Miss only dropping a single set, 6-1, 6-0. Rafael Wagner won his first set against MSU but dropped the next three, defeated by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Malik Bhatnagar also went three sets but was defeated 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Boris Kozlov was defeated by MSU 6-1, 6-2. Hohmann was defeated by MSU 6-2, 6-4. Tom Pisane pushed his second set to a tiebreak but eventually fell 6-3, 7-6(3). 

Day Three 

LSU took on Tennessee on day three and the Vols got the best of the Tigers in all but one match. Bhatnagar/Koch was defeated by Rogers/Wallner, 6-1. Kozlov/Watson and Hohmann/Wagner both were defeated by a score of 6-2. The Vols completed the sweep, defeating Descarrega/Pisane, 6-4. 

Ronald Hohmann received the only win on the final day, defeating Adam Walton from UT in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Malik Bhatnagar was defeated by Tennessee’s Pat Harper 6-1, 6-3. Boris Kozlov fell by the same score but reversed, 6-3, 6-1. Tomas Descarrega was defeated by a score of 6-1, 6-4. Nick Watson also was defeated in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Rafael Wagner pushed the first set to a tiebreak but lost it and the match, 7-6(2), 6-1. Ben Koch also found himself in a first set tiebreak but the same result for Koch as he fell 7-6(1), 6-1. Tom Pisane was on his way to a victory, but had to retire, leaving the score at 6-3, 5-4. 

The Tigers have one final fall tournament November 6 through November 8 when they travel to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama Invitational and take on Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. 

For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennis and on Facebook at For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennisand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsutennis.