The Auburn men's tennis team opened its 2022 spring season with a pair of wins – 6-1 and 7-0 -- over North Alabama before a spirited crowd Saturday indoors at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn.
"I think both matches completed what we needed to," Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds said. "We got a lot of point play, we got pushed, we had guys playing three or four matches in singles and doubles and that's what we needed to shake off the rust and get our legs under us and play competitive tennis.
"That's a great way to start the season, getting pushed, because next week at Old Dominion will be a tough test for us on their home court.
"I thought it was a great turnout and we appreciate the fans; for the 1:30 match, I don't think there was a spot to be had in the bleachers and we love that."
The Tigers took the doubles point in both matches, going 5-0 in tandem play. On court three, Josh Raab and Will Nolan, in their first pairing for the Tigers, were 6-0 winners in the early match and 6-2 victors in the nightcap, both times facing Sam Tolbert and Nazar Fedoryshyn of UNA.
Auburn's Jan Galka and Tyler Stice, ranked No. 28 nationally in doubles, clinched the doubles point in both matches, with a 6-2 win in the opener and a 6-4 win in the second match, both times facing UNA's top team of Carlos Matarredona and Fernando Perez Herrera.
In the season opening match, the Tigers picked up singles victories on five of six courts. Spencer Gray clinched the team match with his 6-2, 6-0 victory over Jamie Bixby on court six. Transfer Raul Dobai got his first dual match win for Auburn on court two with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Carlos Matarredona of UNA and No. 47 Tyler Stice, playing on court one for the Tigers, was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Perez Herrera in the other counting matches.
In the evening match, Maxwell Giddens was first to finish for Auburn with a 6-0, 6-3 victory on court six over Sam Tolbert. Tyler Stice posted a second singles win of the day 6-4, 6-0 over Carlos Matarredona and then Raul Dobai clinched the team win with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nazar Fedoryshyn on court three.
Auburn returns to action next Sunday, January 23, in a 10 a.m. Central match at Old Dominion.
Auburn 6, North Alabama 1 (match one)
Singles
#47 Tyler Stice (AUB) def. Fernando Perez Herrera (UNA) 6-3, 6-1
Raul Dobai (AUB) def. Carlos Matarredona (UNA) 6-2, 6-2
Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Chris Zhang (UNA) 6-0, 6-2
Will Nolan (AUB) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) 6-3, 6-2
Guilherme Diniz (UNA) def. Jackson Ross (AUB) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4)
Spencer Gray (AUB) def. Jamie Bixby (UNA) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
#28 Jan Galka/Tyler Stice (AUB) def. Carlos Matarredona/Fernando Perez Herrera (UNA) 6-2
Raul Dobai/Maxwell Giddens (AUB) def. Chris Zhang/Guilherme Diniz (UNA) 6-3
Josh Raab/Will Nolan (AUB) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Sam Tolbert (UNA) 6-0
Time of match: 2:00; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1,2; Singles: 2,3,6,1,4,5; Official: Donna Jerome
Auburn 7, North Alabama 0 (second match)
Singles
#47 Tyler Stice (AUB) def. Carlos Matarredona (UNA) 6-4, 6-0
#59 Jan Galka (AUB) def. Fernando Perez Hererra (UNA) 6-2, 6-1
Raul Dobai (AUB) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) 6-3, 6-2
Will Nolan (AUB) def. Chris Zhang (UNA) 6-2, 6-3
Josh Raab (AUB) def. Guilherme Diniz (UNA) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3)
Maxwell Giddens (AUB) def. Sam Tolbert (UNA) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles
#28 Jan Galka/Tyler Stice (AUB) def. Carlos Matarredona/Fernando Perez Herrera (UNA) 6-4
Raul Dobai/Maxwell Giddens (AUB) v Chris Zhang/Jamis Bixby (UNA) 5-3 unfinished
Josh Raab/Will Nolan (AUB) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Sam Tolbert (UNA) 6-2
Time of match: 2:01; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1; Singles: 6,1,3,4,2,5; Official: Donna Jerome