Railsplitters Fall To Newberry In First Round Of SAC Men's Tennis Tournament

Box Score

HARROGATE, TN - The Lincoln Memorial University men's tennis team ended the 2009 season Monday afternoon with a first-round South Atlantic Conference Tournament loss to Newberry College.  As has been the case several times this season, the Railsplitters were closely edged in the match, losing 5-3 with one match unfinished.

Ultimately, doubles play is what most likely doomed the Railsplitters.  LMU's only win in the doubles category came at the no. 3 position when Bastian Guenther and Zack Jones defeated Newberry's Mark Boswell and Pavale Popovic 8-1.  The no. 1 and no. 2 doubles matches didn't go as well for Hannes Ganss, Tom Goossens, Gabor Szabo and Andras Pauko.  Ganss and Goossens were defeated by Newberry's Jeremy Smith and Felipe Sobrinho 9-7, while Szabo and Pauko lost 8-8, 7-4 in the tiebreaker.

In single play, LMU's Hannes Ganss defeated Newberry's Maxim Sukharev 6-2, 6-3, while Bastian Guenther lost to Lucas Mattos 3-6, 0-6 in the no. 2 singles match.  The Raisplitter's Gabor Szabo also fell victim to Newberry's Jeremy Smith in no. 3 singles.  Szabo lost 0-6, 2-6, while teammate Tom Goossens match at no. 4 singles was unfinished.  Zack Jones defeated Newberry's Mark Boswell 6-1, 6-0 in no. 5 singles, while Cody Swindall lost to Pavle Popovic in the no. 6 singles match 1-6, 0-6.

The Railsplitters end the 2009 spring season with an overall record of 7-12.  With no seniors on the squad, the Railsplitters will return a solid foundation this fall when they begin the 2009-10 schedule in pursuit of their first South Atlantic Conference title.

Tennis Match Results
Lincoln Memorial vs Newberry
Apr 20, 2009 at Newberry, SC

#12 Newberry 5, Lincoln Memorial 3

 Singles competition
1. Hannes Gannss (LMU) def. Maxim Sukharev (NCM) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lucas Mattos (NCM) def. Bastian Guenther (LMU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Jeremy Smith (NCM) def. Gabor Heredi-Szabo (LMU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Felipe Sobrinho (NCM) vs. Tom Goossens (LMU) unfinished
5. Zack Jones (LMU) def. Mark Boswell (NCM) 6-0, 6-1
6. Pavle Popovic (NCM) def. Cody Swindall (LMU) 6-0, 6-1

 Doubles competition
1. Jeremy Smith/Felipe Sobrinho (NCM) def. Tom Goossens/Hannes Gannss (LMU) 9-7
2. Maxim Sukharev/Lucas Mattos (NCM) def. Gabor Heredi-Szabo/Andras Pauko (LMU) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Zack Jones/Bastian Guenther (LMU) def. Mark Boswell/Pavle Popovic (NCM) 8-1

Match Notes:
Lincoln Memorial 8-12, 2-6 SAC
Newberry 8-7, 6-2 SAC; Regional ranking #12
2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament: First Round
T-3:15  A-33 

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