No. 17/20 Tigers sweep USF to open weekend action

Friday, April 6

Memphis, Tenn.

2 p.m.

University of Memphis

USF

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Apr 06, 2018 | Men's Tennis

Memphis extends win streak to 10

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Despite rainy conditions Friday afternoon, the No. 17/20 Memphis men's tennis team turned in its 10^th consecutive victory with a 4-0 sweep against South Florida at the Racquet Club of Memphis.

Memphis (15-4, 3-0) swept the doubles point, while a trio of Tigers extended individual win streaks in straight-set fashion to seal the win.

"We had to go indoors with a little bit of rain today, but just as we have done all season, we adapted well," associate head coach Chris Doerr said. "We told them to be fired up from the start of their matches, and they did that. I'm really proud of their performances."

In doubles, the Tigers worked quickly as duo Matt Story and Jan Pallares won on court 3, 6-0, while seniors Ryan Peniston and Andrew Watson claimed the top spot with a 6-1 win.

Jan Pallares kept the momentum rolling in singles with a sweep on court 6. The sophomore picked up his eighth straight victory with a 6-0, 6-0 decision.

Watson added his 10^th consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory, while senior Kai Lemke produced the match-clinching win.

"Kai and Andrew have been great this year," Doerr said of the senior duo. "Kai had a tough opponent today, who is a talented tennis player and hits the ball big. I thought Kai did a good job in the first set and understood that he would have to move and force his guy to make some errors."

Lemke's 6-3, 6-2 victory also yielded his eighth consecutive win in dual match play.

"We really believed today that we could win," Lemke said. "It's my last season, so I'm just enjoying it. The guys are doing a great job supporting everyone. We've had great team spirits all semester and we all love it."

After taking their first sets, juniors Chris Patzanovsky and Felix Rauch also held second-set leads before leaving their matches unfinished.

Memphis will cap the weekend with another league opponent in No. 38 UCF at the Racquet Club of Memphis. First serve for Sunday is slated for noon.

"These guys are just so excited," Doerr said. "All week they have been saying they cannot wait to play. Bringing in a great program like UCF and their brand-new facility, our guys are ready. I think it's easy to keep them motivated when they are enjoying it this much."

RESULTS

Singles
1. #47 Ryan Peniston (MEM) vs. #77 Alberto Barroso-Campos (USF) 4-6, 0-3, unfinished
2. #110 Andrew Watson (MEM) def. Peter Bertran (USF) 6-2, 6-0
3. Kai Lemke (MEM) def. Grayson Goldin (USF) 6-3, 6-2
4. Chris Patzanovsky (MEM) vs. Pierre Luquet (USF) 6-1, 5-4, unfinished
5. Felix Rauch (MEM) vs. Jakub Wojcik (USF) 6-1, 5-4, unfinished
6. Jan Pallares (MEM) def. Sean Burnette (USF) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. #43 Peniston/Watson (MEM) def. Barroso-Campos/Goldin (USF) 6-1
2. Lemke/Rauch (MEM) vs. Bertran/Wojcik (USF) 3-4, unfinished
3. Story/Pallares (MEM) def. Burnette/Kast (USF) 6-0