SMU
Memphis
SMU Falls In Conference Quarterfinals To Memphis, 4-2
Apr 17 | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. (SMU) -- The SMU Mustangs received singles victories from freshman Samm Butler and sophomore Arkadijs Slobodkins, but ultimately fell to Memphis, 4-2, in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday morning in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The opening doubles point went down to the wire, with the matches on courts 2 and 3 going to tiebreakers. Memphis won at No. 1 doubles by a 6-4 margin, and wound up winning the tiebreaker at No. 2, 7-6 (3). The No. 3 doubles match went unfinished.
After Memphis took a 2-0 match lead with No. 50 Connor Glennon beating Markus Kerner at No. 1, 6-3, 6-0. Butler and Slobodkins quickly tied the match up at 2-2. Butler won his second match of the year against a ranked foe, beating No. 72 Andrew Watson at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-3. Slobodkins also won in straight sets, topping Patrick Mayer at No. 5, 6-3, 6-4.
Memphis' Shakeel Majji beat SMU freshman Charles Nettlefold, 6-3, 6-4, to give the Tigers a 3-2 match lead. Mustang junior Nate Lammons lost his first set to Kai Lemke at No. 4, 4-6, but stormed back to take set 2, 6-4, to force a decisive third set. Senior Arturs Kazijevs also lost his first set at No. 2 singles to Ryan Peniston, 3-6, but rallied to gain the opportunity to serve for the second set win, up 5-4. Peniston charged back to gain a break and wound up winning the second set, 7-5, to clinch the match for Memphis.
"It was a very tough match," SMU head coach Carl Neufeld said. "The disappointing thing is that we were so close to winning doubles. Memphis played an excellent match to win and they're a really good team."
Butler's singles win was the 20th of his season, which leads the team. Slobodkins improved to 16-5 with his victory.
Memphis will play top-seed USF in the semifinals tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT.
Tennis Match Results
Memphis vs SMU
Apr 17, 2015 at Tulsa, Okla.
#49 Memphis 4, #44 SMU 2
Singles competition
1. #50 Connor Glennon (MEM) def. Markus Kerner (SMU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Ryan Peniston (MEM) def. Arturs Kazijevs (SMU) 6-3, 7-5
3. Samm Butler (SMU) def. #72 Andrew Watson (MEM) 6-2, 6-3
4. Nate Lammons (SMU) vs. Kai Lemke (MEM) 4-6, 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
5. Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) def. Patrick Mayer (MEM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Shakeel Majji (MEM) def. Charles Nettlefold (SMU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #61 Connor Glennon/Kai Lemke (MEM) def. #55 Markus Kerner/Arturs Kazijevs (SMU) 6-4
2. Andrew Watson/Louis Asser (MEM) def. Nate Lammons/Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Samm Butler/Tony Russell (SMU) vs. Ryan Peniston/Patrick Mayer (MEM) 6-6, unfinished
Match Notes:
Memphis 15-7; National ranking #49
SMU 18-9; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,3,5,6,2)
