University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, January 20
Memphis, Tenn.
6 p.m.
University of Memphis
5
vs
2
Indiana
Tigers down Indiana to open season
Jan 20, 2018 | Men's Tennis
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Using strong doubles play and valiant rallies in singles, the Memphis men's tennis team claimed a 5-2 season-opening victory against Indiana Saturday night at the Racquet Club of Memphis.
"It was an exciting match and hard fought. Both teams played very well, I thought, especially for very early in the season," head coach Paul Goebel said. "We had a fantastic crowd that gave us a lot of energy. The doubles point was huge for us, and then in singles, the first sets were close, but I think the second sets on, we started to get more comfortable and played a lot better. It's great to get the win."
Memphis began the day on a high note with a solid doubles performance. Duo Kai Lemke and Matt Story were the first off the court with a 6-2 win at the No. 2 position. Trailing 1-0 early on court 3, tandem Jan Pallares and Felix Rauch rallied to land a 6-4 victory and secure the doubles point for the Tigers.
The Hoosiers (2-1) responded in singles play with two quick points, taking court 3 (6-1, 7-5) and court 6 (6-4, 7-5) to claim a 2-1 match lead.
The Tigers silenced the run with comeback wins from Pallares and Chris Patzanovsky. After dropping their first sets, the duo charged back to win sets two and three and reclaimed the match advantage for the Tigers.
"We talk about it a lot, but it's not easy when you lose that first set. Both of them did a great job," Goebel said of the rallies. "They changed their strategy a little bit and kept their energy up and emotions in check. That's something we have been working on and it was good to see."
At the Nos. 1 and 2 positions, seniors Ryan Peniston and Andrew Watson used first-set tiebreak wins as momentum for straight-set victories. Peniston clinched the match for the Tigers, downing the Hoosiers' No. 125-ranked Raheel Manji 7-6(7-2), 6-4; while Watson claimed a 7-6(7-4), 6-2 win.
Memphis hits the road for its next match as the Tigers travel to Athens, Ga., for the ITA Kick-Off weekend. The Tigers open play against Arkansas on Sunday at 8 a.m. (CT).
RESULTS
Memphis 5, Indiana 2
Singles
1. Peniston (MEM) def. #125 Manji (IND) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
2. Watson (MEM) def. Cembellin (IND) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
3. Tabrizi (IND) def. Lemke (MEM) 6-1, 7-5
4. Patzanovsky (MEM) def. Crane (IND) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Pallares (MEM) def. Lam (IND) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Brodney (IND) def. Rauch (MEM) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Peniston/Watson (MEM) vs. Manji/Tabrizi (IND) 3-5, unfinished
2. Lemke/Story (MEM) def. Cembellin/Salgado (IND) 6-2
3. Pallares/Rauch (MEM) def. Crane/Lam (IND) 6-4
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Using strong doubles play and valiant rallies in singles, the Memphis men's tennis team claimed a 5-2 season-opening victory against Indiana Saturday night at the Racquet Club of Memphis.
"It was an exciting match and hard fought. Both teams played very well, I thought, especially for very early in the season," head coach Paul Goebel said. "We had a fantastic crowd that gave us a lot of energy. The doubles point was huge for us, and then in singles, the first sets were close, but I think the second sets on, we started to get more comfortable and played a lot better. It's great to get the win."
Memphis began the day on a high note with a solid doubles performance. Duo Kai Lemke and Matt Story were the first off the court with a 6-2 win at the No. 2 position. Trailing 1-0 early on court 3, tandem Jan Pallares and Felix Rauch rallied to land a 6-4 victory and secure the doubles point for the Tigers.
The Hoosiers (2-1) responded in singles play with two quick points, taking court 3 (6-1, 7-5) and court 6 (6-4, 7-5) to claim a 2-1 match lead.
The Tigers silenced the run with comeback wins from Pallares and Chris Patzanovsky. After dropping their first sets, the duo charged back to win sets two and three and reclaimed the match advantage for the Tigers.
"We talk about it a lot, but it's not easy when you lose that first set. Both of them did a great job," Goebel said of the rallies. "They changed their strategy a little bit and kept their energy up and emotions in check. That's something we have been working on and it was good to see."
At the Nos. 1 and 2 positions, seniors Ryan Peniston and Andrew Watson used first-set tiebreak wins as momentum for straight-set victories. Peniston clinched the match for the Tigers, downing the Hoosiers' No. 125-ranked Raheel Manji 7-6(7-2), 6-4; while Watson claimed a 7-6(7-4), 6-2 win.
Memphis hits the road for its next match as the Tigers travel to Athens, Ga., for the ITA Kick-Off weekend. The Tigers open play against Arkansas on Sunday at 8 a.m. (CT).
RESULTS
Memphis 5, Indiana 2
Singles
1. Peniston (MEM) def. #125 Manji (IND) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
2. Watson (MEM) def. Cembellin (IND) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
3. Tabrizi (IND) def. Lemke (MEM) 6-1, 7-5
4. Patzanovsky (MEM) def. Crane (IND) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Pallares (MEM) def. Lam (IND) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Brodney (IND) def. Rauch (MEM) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Peniston/Watson (MEM) vs. Manji/Tabrizi (IND) 3-5, unfinished
2. Lemke/Story (MEM) def. Cembellin/Salgado (IND) 6-2
3. Pallares/Rauch (MEM) def. Crane/Lam (IND) 6-4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Men's Tennis Edition - April 15, 2025
Tuesday, April 15
Men's Tennis: Getting hyped for outdoor tennis match - March 31, 2024
Sunday, March 31
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Men's Tennis 5/6/21
Thursday, May 06
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Men's Tennis 3/3/21
Wednesday, March 03