March 28, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team picked up their fourth straight win with a 4-3 victory over UC-Riverside, on the MUS Courts, Tuesday. With just five home matches on the 2005-06 schedule, Memphis has used what little home court it can find while playing on numerous courts throughout the city to remain undefeated at home. Memphis has just one home match remaining, when the Tigers host Auburn-Montgomery, the No. 2 ranked team in the NAIA, on Apr. 7th.

Memphis started off with a win of the doubles points, powered by an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles from James Spence and Sam Withell and an 8-3 win at No. 3 from Garrison Pilant and Michael Jetter. Jetter then posted Memphis' next point with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Joe Cartledge at No. 3 singles to put Memphis up 2-0. UC-Riverside would answer back with wins at No. 1 and 5 singles, but Memphis would close out the victory with wins from James Spence at No. 2, 6-3, 7-5, and a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 win from Matt Brewer at No. 4 to decide the match. UC Riverside pulled it within one more point when Gorjan Kovacevic won a third set super tiebreak 10-8 to claim the No. 6 singles match.

The Tigers will pack up and head to Dallas, where they will face No. 60 SMU in a Conference USA match-up. Memphis is looking to even its C-USA record at 2-2 with the SMU contest.

Memphis 4, UC Riverside 3
Doubles
No. 1 - No. 24 James Spence/Sam Withell (UM) def. Mark Contreras/Frick, 8-2
No. 2 - Joe Cartledge/Norman Tam def. Tezar Putra/Matt Brewer (UM), 8-6
No. 3 - Garrison Pilant/Michael Jetter (UM) def. Peana/Bobby Tam, 8-3
Singles
No. 1 - Mark Contreras def. Sam Withell (UM), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 - James Spence (UM) def. Norman Tam, 6-3, 7-5
No. 3 - Michael Jetter (UM) def. Joe Cartledge, 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 - Matt Brewer (UM) def. Bobby Tam, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3
No. 5 - Giancario Cava def. Tezar Putra (UM), 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 - Gorjan Kovacevic def. Garrison Pilant (UM), 7-5, 6-7, 10-8