Saturday, April 18
Nashville, TN
2 p.m.
Jacksonville State University
3
vs
4
Eastern Kentucky
Gamecocks Fall To Eastern Kentucky In OVC Tennis Semifinals
4/18/2015 5:59:00 PM | Men's Tennis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team put together a valiant effort to reach 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship match and give retiring head coach Steve Bailey another chance for a conference title, but the Gamecocks were edged 4-3 to top-seeded Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
The Gamecocks, who finished the 2015 season at 12-12, playing in the semifinal round of the league's postseason for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The Colonels, the regular season champions, will face Austin Peay on Sunday for the conference crown.
For the second consecutive match, JSU started string by winning the doubles point. EKU's No. 2 team of Alex Alvaro and Diego Asis downed Jax State's tandem of Felipe Doaz and Jaryd Reese, 8-2 to gain momentum in doubles. JSU's top duo of Jefferson Wendler-Filho and Pedro Wagner posted an 8-6 win over the Colonels' team of Sebastian Mueller and Juanjo De La Llera, 8-6 to set up the third-and-deciding match at No. 3.
JSU's Dylan Gee and Mathias Chaim were in a battle with EKU's Ramon Van Flyman and Diogo Soares. The match was extended to a tiebreaker as Gee and Chaim ousted the EKU duo, 9-7, to post the 8-7 win.
With momentum going in to singles, the Gamecocks looked to get the necessary three points to clinch the match. EKU quickly equalized with a win at No. 4 as Mueller downed JSU's Wagner – 6-1, 6-3. After JSU moved ahead 2-1, Chaim collected his second win of the day after a win in doubles as he dispatched Daridge Saidi – 6-2, 6-1.
EKU posted a pair of wins to inch closer to clinching the win as Flyman defeated Gee at No. 2 – 6-3, 6-2 and De La Llera dropped Felipe Wenzel 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 to give his club a 3-2 advantage.
Wendler-Filho got the best of his All-OVC Second Team counterpart, Alvaro at No. 1. After Alvaro quick-worked Wendler-Filho 6-1 in the opening set, Wendler-Filho bounced back to win 6-4, 6-2 to even the score at 3-all.
The match came down to No. 5 as Jaryd Reese tried to mirror what he did on Friday in the quarterfinals – clinch the winning point. Reese battled Soares in a loss in two sets – 6-3, 6-4.
Bailey's long-time career came to a close on Saturday with the loss in the semifinals. Bailey, who has led the Gamecocks' tennis program for 35 years, announced his retirement prior to the final weekend of the regular season. Bailey concludes his career with over 800 career wins combined in men's and women's tennis and collected 20 OVC titles.
The Gamecocks, who finished the 2015 season at 12-12, playing in the semifinal round of the league's postseason for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The Colonels, the regular season champions, will face Austin Peay on Sunday for the conference crown.
For the second consecutive match, JSU started string by winning the doubles point. EKU's No. 2 team of Alex Alvaro and Diego Asis downed Jax State's tandem of Felipe Doaz and Jaryd Reese, 8-2 to gain momentum in doubles. JSU's top duo of Jefferson Wendler-Filho and Pedro Wagner posted an 8-6 win over the Colonels' team of Sebastian Mueller and Juanjo De La Llera, 8-6 to set up the third-and-deciding match at No. 3.
JSU's Dylan Gee and Mathias Chaim were in a battle with EKU's Ramon Van Flyman and Diogo Soares. The match was extended to a tiebreaker as Gee and Chaim ousted the EKU duo, 9-7, to post the 8-7 win.
With momentum going in to singles, the Gamecocks looked to get the necessary three points to clinch the match. EKU quickly equalized with a win at No. 4 as Mueller downed JSU's Wagner – 6-1, 6-3. After JSU moved ahead 2-1, Chaim collected his second win of the day after a win in doubles as he dispatched Daridge Saidi – 6-2, 6-1.
EKU posted a pair of wins to inch closer to clinching the win as Flyman defeated Gee at No. 2 – 6-3, 6-2 and De La Llera dropped Felipe Wenzel 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 to give his club a 3-2 advantage.
Wendler-Filho got the best of his All-OVC Second Team counterpart, Alvaro at No. 1. After Alvaro quick-worked Wendler-Filho 6-1 in the opening set, Wendler-Filho bounced back to win 6-4, 6-2 to even the score at 3-all.
The match came down to No. 5 as Jaryd Reese tried to mirror what he did on Friday in the quarterfinals – clinch the winning point. Reese battled Soares in a loss in two sets – 6-3, 6-4.
Bailey's long-time career came to a close on Saturday with the loss in the semifinals. Bailey, who has led the Gamecocks' tennis program for 35 years, announced his retirement prior to the final weekend of the regular season. Bailey concludes his career with over 800 career wins combined in men's and women's tennis and collected 20 OVC titles.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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