Tigers upend Tulane in thriller

Wednesday, March 7

New Orleans, LA

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

#34 Tulane

Mar 07, 2018 | Men's Tennis

Peniston, Watson earn ranked singles wins

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Time and again this season, senior Ryan Peniston has answered the call with a match on the line. It was no different Wednesday afternoon, when Peniston turned in one of the biggest wins of his career to help lead No. 45 Memphis to a 4-3 victory at No. 34 Tulane.

With the match knotted at 3-3, Peniston won a three-set thriller against the Green Waves' 15^th-ranked Constantin Schmitz for the Tigers' second league victory.

Memphis (7-4) claimed the opening doubles point with a win from Peniston and Andrew Watson at the top spot along with a ranked win by Jan Pallares and Matt Story at court 3.

In singles, Watson, who was this week's AAC player of the week, continued the momentum with a 7-5, 6-0 win against No. 77 Ewan Moore on court 2 to push the Tigers lead to 2-0. Watson's win was his first ranked win of the season, while the Great Britain native has won six of the last seven decisions, including three straight.

The Green Wave (6-5) responded with wins on court 6 and 4 to quickly even the match.

Senior Kai Lemke captured a brief Memphis lead with a three-set win at the three spot, but the Wave evened the match once more with a win on court 5.

With all eyes on the top spot, Peniston forced a third set and built a 5-2 lead in the final frame. Despite a short rally from Schmitz, the senior held serve in the final game to secure the Tiger victory.

Peniston's victory stands as his highest-ranked dual-match win of his career, his fourth ranked win of the season, his fourth career win against a top-25 foe and his sixth match-clinching win for the Tigers this season.

Wednesday's win also closed a seven-match road stretch for the Tigers. Memphis will return home to host No. 14 Oklahoma State at noon on Sunday at the Racquet Club of Memphis.

RESULTS

Singles
1. #63 Peniston (MEM) def. #15 Schmitz (TLN) 6-7(4-7), 6-2, 6-4
2. Watson (MEM) def. #77 Moore (TLN) 7-5, 6-0
3. Lemke (MEM) def. Steward (TLN) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
4. Schick (TLN) def. Patzanovsky (MEM) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Erlenbusch (TLN) def. Rauch (MEM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
6. Ruetzel (TLN) def. Pallares (MEM) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles
1. Peniston/Watson (MEM) def. Schmitz/Moore (TLN) 6-1
2. Ruetzel/Stewart (TLN) vs. Lemke/Sullivan (MEM) 4-3 unfinished
3. Pallares/Story (MEM) def. #80 Schick/Erlenbusch (TLN) 6-3