Feb. 26, 2011
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The No. 22 Auburn Tigers rallied to defeat No. 17 Texas Tech, 4-3, in the second round of the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery Saturday. With the win, the Tigers move to 7-2 on the season and will face No. 21 Pepperdine in the classic's championship match Sunday.
"It was a good job by our guys tonight," head coach Eric Shore said. "The way Tim (Puetz) clinched the match and how Alex (Stamchev) won 7-6 in the third making it three all made it feel like it was meant to be. It was a great job by everybody tonight and it was a big win for this program."
Auburn earned the doubles point quickly as the Tigers earned a pair of 8-3 wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Sophomore Lucas Lopasso and freshman Rafael Rondino opened up with a win over Rafael Pfister and David Gonzalez at No. 3 doubles. Junior Alex Stamchev and sophomore Andreas Mies followed with a win at No. 2 doubles over Texas Tech's No. 59 Gonzalo Escobar and Vitor Manzini to secure the doubles point.
At No. 1 doubles, Auburn's Tim Puetz and Daniel Cochrane held a 4-3 advantage over No. 76 Raony Carvalho and Rafael Garcia before play was called.
In singles, No. 106 Mies gave Auburn an early 2-0 lead as he cruised past Ryan Ybarra, 6-3, 6-2, on court six. With his victory, Mies remains undefeated in the spring campaign.
In the No. 4 spot, Cochrane fell to Gabriel Wanderley in two sets (6-4, 6-2). Texas Tech tied the match up at 2-2 after No. 20 Raony Carvalho defeated No. 96 Tim Hewitt, 6-1, 7-6.
The Red Raiders took a 3-2 lead as Pfister edged out Rondino in a three sets at No. 5 singles (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). Stamchev kept Auburn's hopes alive by beating Manzini in a three-set thriller (6-3, 2-6, 7-6), evening the score at 3-3.
On court one, senior and No. 72-ranked Tim Puetz dropped a 6-2 decision in the first set, but battled back to force the third with a 7-6 second-set victory over No. 18 Gonzalo Escobar. Puetz pulled off the upset and the team victory after taking the third set, 6-3. The Usingen, Germany, native has defeated a top-20 player in two out of his last three matches.
Up next the Tigers will face No. 21 Pepperdine in the championship match in the Blue Gray Classic at 12:00 p.m. at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center.
Against Texas Tech
Singles
1. No. 72 Tim Puetz (Auburn) def. No. 18 Gonzalo Escobar (Texas Tech); 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
2. No. 20 Raony Carvalho (Texas Tech) def. No. 96 Tim Hewitt (Auburn); 6-1, 7-6
3. Alex Stamchev (Auburn) def. Vitor Manzini (Texas Tech); 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5)
4. Gabriel Wanderley (Texas Tech) def. Daniel Cochrane (Auburn); 6-4, 6-2
5. Rafael Pfister (Texas Tech) def. Rafael Rondino (Auburn); 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. No. 106 Andreas Mies (Auburn) def. Ryan Ybarra (Texas Tech); 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Puetz/Cochrane (Auburn) vs. No. 76 Carvalho/Garcia (Texas Tech); 4-3, unfinished
2. Stamchev/Mies (Auburn) def. No. 59 Escobar/Manzini (Texas Tech); 8-3
3. Lopasso/Rondino (Auburn) def. Phister/Gonzalez (Texas Tech); 8-3
Match Notes
Auburn: 7-2; National Ranking #22
Boise State: 7-5; National Ranking #17