Southern Miss Golden Eagle Tennis Loses to Memphis, 5-2
David Canudas upset the No. 76 player in the nation with a straight set victory |
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The University of Memphis men's tennis team (5-2, 1-0) downed Southern Miss (1-4, 0-1) in the opening match of the Inter Conference Tournament at Tulane University, 5-2, Friday. Southern Miss will face Saint Louis in a 9 a.m. match, Saturday.
Memphis swept the doubles point, claiming the No. 1 and 2 singles slots with 8-2 wins, and with an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles. Memphis then won two of the six singles matches, with Marten Tamla posting a 7-6, 6-3 win over Christopher Rea at no. 4, clinching the match in the Tigers' favor.
Southern Miss’ David Canudas upset No. 76 Lee Taylor Walker of Memphis at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. Canudas, who downed the then-No. 40 player in the country in a non-conference match against Auburn, snapped a five-match win streak for Walker.
“David played really well for us today,” Head Coach Teddy Viator said. “This is the third ranked player he has beaten this season.”
Reid Bourgeois was the only other victory for the Golden Eagles. Reid posted a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over Sam Withell.
“As a team, we competed well,” Head Coach Teddy Viator said. “We had our chance to win, but we just didn’t finish some of the matches. The effort definitely was there. We have to start playing better doubles. We are going to have to start winning some of the close matches.”
2004 Conference USA Men's Tennis Shootout
February 27-29, 2004
Goldring Tennis Stadium
Tulane University
New Orleans, La.
Match #1
#3 (69) Memphis 5, #6 Southern Miss 2
Doubles
1. Spence/Walker (UM) def. Bourgeois/Thomas Funke (USM): 8-2
2. Bucewicz/Tamla (UM) def. Canudas/Rea (USM): 8-2
3. Campbell/Jago (UM) def. Lux/Mezey (USM): 8-5
Singles
1. David Canudas (USM) def. #76 Lee Walker (UM): 6-4, 6-3
2. James Spence (UM) def. Juan Garzon (USM): 6-2, 6-0
3. Alex Bucewicz (UM) def. Marc-Oliver Lux (USM): 7-6, 3-0, ret.
4. Marten Tamla (UM) def. Christopher Rea (USM): 7-6, 6-3*
5. Reid Bourgeois (USM) def. Sam Withell (UM): 7-6, 6-2
6. Mark Finnegan (UM) def. Dylan Mezey (USM): 6-2, 3-6, 10-8
* - clinched victory
