NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers men's tennis team had to overcome another hurdle as they defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at the University Tennis Center to move to 5-0 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With four players unavailable, the squad was shorthanded meaning they had to win both remaining doubles matches to earn the first point.
After
Espen Lagarde and
Max Heinzel earned a single break late on to win 6-4 it was up to
Marcel Volz and
Matthew Armbruster at flight two. The pair went to a tiebreak in a back-and-forth contest against Vanja Dobrnjac and Daisuke Inagawa.
Jacksonville State's duo earned a mini break early on and nearly made it hold. Trailing 6-4 though, Volz and Armbruster came storming back to get on serve. The duo saved five match points before Armbruster's volley at the net finished the tiebreak at 14-12.
The momentum carried into singles for New Orleans. Though Jacksonville State went back ahead briefly after a straight set win at flight four, the Privateers rattled off the next three matches.
Volz earned an early break in each of the first two sets and broke serve in the second set to seal his match at flight one.
Armbruster, playing at flight five, earned a service break in the middle of the second set en route to his victory.
Heinzel sealed the match for New Orleans. After winning the first set, Heinzel was serving for the match but got broken to tie the score at 5-5. The second set went to a tiebreak where Heinzel pulled away late, rattling off four straight points to win the tiebreak 7-3.
To cap the afternoon,
David Tesic was facing his opponent serving the match out. Tesic broke to tie the score at 5-5. After coming back to win the set, Tesic rallied from down 9-5 in a 10-point tiebreak to win 12-10.
FROM COACH KANGA
"This team found a way. We had to play with just five players but I told this team they are capable no matter what the challenge is. The doubles point started the momentum for us. This is a tough Jacksonville State team and I'm proud of the way we competed."
"Marcel and Matt, every time they were down they came up with a bigger shot. They came up in critical moments and played without fear."
NEXT UP
The Privateers will open conference play against Nicholls on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
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