Feb. 12, 2012
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AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's 16th-ranked men's tennis team finished off home non-conference play with a weekend sweep, defeating No. 56 South Florida 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center to improve to 6-0 on the year.
With the win, Auburn tied its best start since the 2007 season, when the Tigers also began 6-0. The last time Auburn began a year with a better record was 2005 as the Tigers got off to an 8-0 start. South Florida fell to 0-5 with all five of their losses to nationally ranked opponents.
"It was a solid win today, and the guys played well," Auburn head coach Eric Shore said. "I thought we did a good job in doubles, as we have all year. I feel like we have a chance in doubles in every spot. We played well, and we know that we earned the right to go to indoors next week. We know that the level of play is better, and we have to be better."
The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead by sweeping the three doubles matches. The No. 2 duo of Andreas Mies and Lukas Ollert took down Wael Kilani and Sebastian Hagn, 8-2. On court three, Dennis Lengsfeld and Lucas Lopasso defeated Lucas Marin-Salcedo and Ravi Patel, 8-3, to clinch the doubles point for Auburn. Alex Stamchev and Daniel Cochrane finished off the sweep by outlasting Yannick Yoshizawa and Oliver Pramming, 8-6.
In singles, the 18th-ranked Mies quickly took care of Yashizawa with a 6-2, 6-3 win on court one. Stamchev earned a win at No. 2 singles after topping Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard, 6-3, 6-1, to give Auburn a 3-0 lead. Ollert clinched the win for the Tigers earning a victory on court five against Guillermo de Vilchez, 6-3, 6-2.
Lengsfeld made it 5-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 win at the No. 3 singles position over Marin-Salcedo. South Florida was able to get a point on court six as Pramming defeated Rafael Rondino, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The No. 4 singles match went to a third-set super tiebreaker, ultimately won by Cochrane to finish out the day with a 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4) win over Patel.
The Tigers will face a stern test next weekend as they travel to Charlottesville, Va., for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. Auburn begins play at 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 17, as the Tigers face the homestanding and No. 2-ranked Virginia Cavaliers.
With next Sunday's scheduled home match vs. Fresno State canceled, the Tigers' next home contest will be Friday, March 9, as home SEC play begins with a visit from Arkansas.
Auburn Men's Tennis Results
February 12, 2012
Yarbrough Tennis Center - Auburn, Ala.
No. 16 Auburn 6, No. 56 South Florida 1
Singles
1. #18 Andreas Mies (AU) def. Yannick Yoshizawa (USF), 6-2, 6-3
2. Alex Stamchev (AU) def. Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard (USF), 6-3, 6-1
3. Dennis Lengsfeld (AU) def. Lucas Marin-Salcedo (USF), 6-3, 6-4
4. Daniel Cochrane (AU) def. Ravi Patel (USF), 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4)
5. Lukas Ollert (AU) def. Guillermo de Vilchez (USF), 6-3, 6-2
6. Oliver Pramming (USF) def. Rafael Rondino (AU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 4
Doubles
1. Alex Stamchev/Daniel Cochrane (AU) def. Oliver Pramming/Yannick Yoshizawa (USF), 8-6
2. Andreas Mies/Lukas Ollert (AU) def. Wael Kilani/Sebastian Hagn (USF), 8-2
3. Dennis Lengsfeld/Lucas Lopasso (AU) def. Lucas Marin-Salcedo/Ravi Patel (USF), 8-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Match Notes
Auburn 6-0, National Ranking #16
South Florida 0-5, National Ranking #56