March 26, 2011
AUBURN -- The No. 26 Auburn men's tennis team (11-6, 3-3 SEC) upset the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats (18-6, 3-3 SEC), 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"I thought it was a great effort all the way around," head coach Eric Shore said. "I think the tiebreaker in the No. 1 doubles was huge, it gave us some momentum. We got off to a good start in singles, but they fought back. It was a good win."
In doubles, Auburn won the first match after No. 63 Alex Stamchev and Andreas Mies upset Kentucky's No. 41 Alberto Gonzalez and Tom Jomby, 8-3. On court three, Kentucky's Alex Musialek and Anthony Rossi defeated Lucas Lopasso and Rafael Rondino, 8-4.
The Tigers would secure the doubles point in exciting fashion as Tim Puetz and Daniel Cochrane beat No. 48 Eric Quigley and Brad Cox, 9-8 (6).
After a 25-minute delay during the middle of singles play because of inclement weather, singles matches were moved indoors. No. 104 Stamchev gave Auburn a 2-0 lead by defeating the Wildcats' Cox, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Kentucky earned a victory on court two as No. 47 Musialek toppled Auburn's Tim Hewitt in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. In the No. 6 position, Rondino earned a three-set victory over Jomby, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
No. 31 Puetz clinched the win for the Tigers by upsetting No. 4 Quigley in a three-set thriller, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1. The Usingen, Germany native is now 6-2 against ranked opponents on the year.
"What can you say about our captain?" Shore said of Puetz. "I wouldn't trade him for anybody, that guy is a stud. He steps up, and that is what he did today."
No. 105 Cochrane was ahead on No. 117 Gonzalez 7-5, 1-6, 6-5, before the match was concluded. No. 121 Mies was trailing 6-4, 6-7, 0-3 to Kentucky's No. 77 Rossi.
Up next for the Tigers is a road trip to LSU and Arkansas. Auburn will square off with LSU on Friday, April 1, and will take on Arkansas on Sunday, April 3.
Against Kentucky
Singles competition
1. #31 Tim Puetz (AU) def. #4 Eric Quigley (UK) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-1
2. #47 Alex Musialek (UK) def. Tim Hewitt (AU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. #104 Alex Stamchev (AU) def. Brad Cox (UK) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
4. #105 Daniel Cochrane (AU) vs. #117 Alberto Gonzalez (UK) 7-5, 1-6, 6-5, unfinished
5. #121 Andreas Mies (AU) vs. #77 Anthony Rossi (UK) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 0-3, unfinished
6. Rafael Rondino (AU) def. Tom Jomby (UK) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Tim Puetz/Daniel Cochrane (AU) def. #48 Eric Quigley/Brad Cox (UK) 9-8 (6-8)
2. #63 Alex Stamchev/Andreas Mies (AU) def. #41 Alberto Gonzalez/Tom Jomby (UK) 8-3
3. Alex Musialek/Anthony Rossi (UK) def. Lucas Lopasso/Rafael Rondino (AU) 8-4
Match Notes:
University of Kentucky 18-6 (3-3 SEC); National ranking #14
Auburn University 11-6 (3-3 SEC); National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,2,6,1)