April 21, 2007
HOUSTON, Texas (SMU) - The #48 SMU men's tennis team was unable to overturn #30 Rice this afternoon in the semifinal round of the Conference USA Championship that is being hosted by Rice University in Houston, Texas. Rice narrowly escaped the strong hold of the Mustangs as the match was ultimately decided by the doubles point. SMU ends the season with an overall record of 16-9.
In doubles, Alex Skrypko and Federico Murgier were unable to top the #53 duo of Ralph Knupfer and Tobias Scheil at No. 1 as they fell, 8-2, while Robin Fahgen and Oivind Alver could not get past Jason Mok and Christoph Muller at No. 2 as they fell, 8-5. The No. 3 match between the pair of David Kuczer and Adolfo Solares against Ben Harknett and Dennis Polyakov did not finish but the Mustangs were leading the Owls, 8-7.
The Mustangs gained their momentum back in singles as Kuczer knocked down the first SMU point when he upset #120 Knupfer at No. 2, 6-4, 6-1. At No. 4, Murgier was unable to over turn Scheil as he fell, 6-4, 6-4, but the score became tied again when #79 Skyrpko toppled #36 Harknett at No. 1, 7-5, 6-2. Alver battled strong with Muller at No. 3, but could not take the win as he fell, 7-5, 7-5, but Fahgen quickly leveled the playing field again when he took the 6-3, 6-2, decision over Mok at No. 5. The match came down to the play at No. 6 singles where Solares and Filip Zivojinovic were fighting it out. The two battled into three sets, but Zivojinovic broke serve over Solares to take the lead and win the match, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
This concludes the Mustangs play in the C-USA Championship as they await NCAA bracket announcement May 1st.
Tennis Match ResultsSouthern Methodist vs Rice4/21/07 at Houston, Texas
#30 Rice 4, #48 Southern Methodist 3
Singles competition1. #79 Alex Skrypko (SMU) def. #36 Ben Harknett (RICE) 7-5, 6-22. David Kuczer (SMU) def. #120 Ralph Knupfer (RICE) 6-4, 6-13. Christoph Müller (RICE) def. Oivind Alver (SMU) 7-5, 7-54. Tobias Scheil (RICE) def. Federico Murgier (SMU) 6-4, 6-45. Robin Fahgen (SMU) def. Jason Mok (RICE) 6-3, 6-26. Filip Zivojinovic (RICE) def. Adolfo Solares (SMU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition1. #53 Ralph Knupfer/Tobias Scheil (RICE) def. Alex Skrypko/Federico Murgier (SMU) 8-22. Jason Mok/Christoph Müller (RICE) def. Robin Fahgen/Oivind Alver (SMU) 8-53. Ben Harknett/Dennis Polyakov (RICE) vs. David Kuczer/Adolfo Solares (SMU) 7-8, unfinished
Match Notes:Southern Methodist 16-9; National ranking #48Rice 15-10; National ranking #30Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,4,1,3,5,6)2007 Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship semifinal #2#2 Rice vs. #3 SMU
