May 14, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. - The No. 23 Auburn men's tennis team concluded its 2010-11 season after falling to No. 6 Georgia, 4-0, in the second round of the NCAA Regional at the Dan Magill Tennis Center in Athens, Ga. With the loss, the Tigers finish the season 16-10.
"We had our chances at one and two in doubles. We were in there and they played well at three," said Auburn head coach Eric Shore. "Coming out in singles, I felt like at the top three courts, we were battling hard. We had some youth in the bottom three courts, and it showed a little bit today. They played well, and they deserved to win it. It was a tough way to end."
In doubles, Georgia's Wil Spencer and Drake Bernstein raced past Auburn's Lucas Lopasso and Rafael Rondino, 8-1, on court three. On court two, the Bulldogs' No. 88 Sadio Doumbia and Ignacio Taboada edged out the Tigers' Alex Stamchev and Andreas Mies, 8-6, to win the doubles point.
In the No. 1 position, Georgia's No. 6 Javier Garrapiz and Hernus Pieters were tied with Auburn's No. 12 Tim Puetz and Daniel Cochrane, 8-8, before doubles play was halted.
In singles, the Bulldogs' Hernus Pieters defeated Auburn's Michael Wardell, 6-2, 6-1, on court six, giving Georgia a 2-0 advantage. On court four, UGA's Drake Bernstein stonewalled Auburn's Daniel Cochrane, 6-0, 6-4.
The Bulldogs would clinch the match after Ignacio Taboada topped Auburn's Rafael Rondino on court five, 6-3, 6-4.
The Tigers' Tim Puetz won the first set against No. 18 Wil Spencer, 6-4, but was trailing 5-4 in the second set before the match was called. Auburn's Alex Stamchev lost the first set, 7-5, in a battle with No. 32 Javier Garrapiz. The Tigers' Andreas Mies was trailing 6-4, 4-1, against No. 51 Sadio Doumbia.
While the season is over for the team, Puetz and Cochrane will continue their season at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship, May 25-30 in Palo Alto, Calif.
Against No. 6 Georgia
Singles competition
1. #18 Wil Spencer (UGA) vs. #12 Tim Puetz (AUB) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
2. #32 Javier Garrapiz (UGA) vs. #115 Alex Stamchev (AUB) 7-5, unfinished
3. #51 Sadio Doumbia (UGA) vs. Andreas Mies (AUB) 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
4. Drake Bernstein (UGA) def. Daniel Cochrane (AUB) 6-0, 6-4
5. Ignacio Taboada (UGA) def. Rafael Rondino (AUB) 6-3, 6-4
6. Hernus Pieters (UGA) def. Michael Wardell (AUB) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #6 Javier Garrapiz/Hernus Pieters (UGA) vs. #12 Tim Puetz/Daniel Cochrane (AUB) 8-8, unfinished
2. #88 Sadio Doumbia/Ignacio Taboada (UGA) def. Andreas Mies/Alex Stamchev (AUB) 8-6
3. Wil Spencer/Drake Bernstein (UGA) def. Lucas Lopasso/Rafael Rondino (AUB) 8-1
Match Notes:
Auburn 16-10; National ranking #23
Georgia 22-5; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,4,5)