As the last day signaled the end of the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic, the Crimson Tide experienced and up and down day. Alabama would split the two matchups with a win against Boise State, and a grueling loss to the Texas Tech Raiders. By the end of the day, the Tide fell back to even with a 6-6 record.
Beginning with the matchup against the Boise State Broncos, Alabama roared out of the gates thanks to a 6-3 doubles victory by Spencer Richey and Edson Ortiz over Pedro Platzeck and Greg Wischer. The Tide was able to take the doubles point after a dicey and captivating win by Mazen Osama and Alexey Nesterov 7-6 (2), a match that could have gone either way.
Just as Nesterov won in doubles play, he also walked away victoriously with a swift 6-2, 6-0 win to kick off singles play against Wischer of Boise State. Shortly after the Nesterov win, Boise State responded with their only win of the day as Thibault Cancel fell to Brian Tran 6-1, 6-4. With a decisive 6-3, 6-2 win by Ortiz, Alabama required one more singles win to win the match. It was Osama who had the honors and delivered the Tide its victory in a three set thriller 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 over Butters.
Alabama would not be able to sustain the high level of play as they took on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. It appeared it may be a long match for the Tide when doubles play was finished rather quickly thanks to a coupling of two resounding wins.
First with Carlos DiLaura and Jolan Cailleau of Texas Tech beating Ortiz and Nesterov 6-, then it was Richey and Osama who fell to Connor Curry and Bjorn Thomson 6-2, which gave Texas Tech the doubles point.
Curry took home the first of three singles victories for the Red Raiders with a 6-0, 6-4 sweep of Cancel. Nesterov of the Tide was able to give the team their sole point of the match with the win over Jackson Cobb 6-4, 6-1. Texas Tech was then able to rattle off back to back wins to take hold of the match and clinch the day with its second win of the day.
“Good finish this morning against Boise State,” said head coach George Husack told Rolltide.com. “We needed to bounce back after letting Virginia Tech slip away. And finally we needed to finish strong against Texas Tech. We competed our tails off, and it was a good battle.
Alabama resumes action on Friday, March 3, the Ole Miss Rebels travel to Tuscaloosa to begin SEC play. The match will begin at 6 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
