Oct. 27, 2008

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Memphis men's tennis team wrapped up their 2008 fall season last weekend at the Crimson Tide Invite in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Tigers recorded several key victories in the tournament, as seven Memphis comeptitors participated in both doubles and singles action in the tournament.

"It was a good finish to the fall season," said Head Coach Paul Goebel. A lot of guys are playing at the highest level we have seen them play at so far, especially Charlie Ramsay, Benedikt Fischer and Jordan Smith. We have a lot of positive momentum going into the off-season and with continued hard work we should be on pace to have an exciting spring season."

Smith, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., captured two wins for the Tigers in singles. In the first round, Smith defeated Chattanooga's Alex Butnarcuic, 6-0, 6-1. In the second round of play in the Ken Stabler draw for singles, Smith took down Samford's Michael Browder, 6-4, 6-4. In his third round of play, Smith fell to Vanderbilt's Alex DiValerio, 6-1, 6-1. Vanderbilt finished last season as the No. 26 team in the nation.

Ramsay, a junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., lost a hard fought match in the first round of the main draw of singles to UAB's Daniel Moser, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4. Ramsay was 9-11 for the U of M last season in singles. UAB finished last year ranked No. 72 in the nation.

In consolation singles, Ramsay was defeated by Jacksonville State's Gustavo Holz, 6-4, 7-6(4).

Fischer, a senior for the Tiger men's tennis team. Also played a hard-fought match in the first round of singles. The native of Dusseldorf, Germany, played Antonio Lastre of Mississippi State to a tiebreaker in the first set, losing the first set in the tiebreaker. Fischer would lose the match, 7-6(5), 7-5. Mississippi State was ranked No. 58 at the end of last season. In the consolation round of play, Fischer was defeated by Scott Robertson of Jacksonville State, 6-4, 7-5.

In doubles, Fischer and Smith upender Alex Emery and Brian Ly of UAB, 8-5. Ly teamed with Johannes Spangenberg last season to post an 11-1 doubles record. In the second round, South Florida's Thomas Estrada and Lucas Jovita, won a closely contested match, 9-7.

David Henry and Ramsay also earned a doubles win, defeating Georgia Southern's Alain Garrido and Mark Paetz, 8-3. in the second round, Henry and Ramsay were defeated by Jamal Adderley and Yannick Yoshizawa of South Florida, 8-6. South Florida finished last season ranked No. 44 in the country.

Memphis will return to the court for spring play on Jan. 23-25 when they play in a fall tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

Spencer Heflin
Strate Krstevski (S. Miss) def. Heflin, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Heflin def. Felipe Sylva (S. Miss), 6-3, 6-1
Michael Gaerthoeffner
Carlos Alvarez (Clemson) def. Gaerthoeffner, 6-3, 6-1
Nick Cromydas (Vanderbilt) def. Gaerthoeffner, 6-2, 6-2
K.C. Grffin
Griffin def. Kelwin Dewet (Samford) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Andrey Morozov (Troy) def. Griffin, 6-3, 6-4
Jordan Smith
Smith def. Alex Butnarcuic (UTC), 6-0, 6-1
Smith def. Michael Browder (Samford), 6-4, 6-4
Alex DiValerio (Vanderbilt) def. Smith, 6-1, 6-1
Benedikt Fischer
Antonio Lastre (Mississippi State) def. Fischer, 7-6(5), 7-5
Scott Robertson (Jacksonville State) def. Fischer, 6-4, 7-5
Charlie Ramsay
Daniel Moser (UAB) def. Ramsay,, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4
Gustavo Holz (Jacksonville State) def. Ramsay, 6-4, 7-6(4)
David Henry
Phil Janz (Troy) def. Henry, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0
Henry def. Markus Wessingage, USM, 3-6, 7-5, 1-0(7)
Benedikt Fischer and Jordan Smith
Fischer and Smith def. Alex Emery and Brian Ly (UAB), 8-5
Thomas Estrada and Lucas Jovita, USF def. Fischer and Smith, 9-7
David Henry and Charlie Ramsay
Henry and Ramsay def. Alain Garrido and Mark Paetz (Georgia Southern), 8-3
Jamal Adderley and Yannick Yoshizawa (USF) def. Henry and Ramsay, 8-6
Michael Gaerthoeffner and Spencer Heflin
Gaerthoeffner and Heflin def. Chase Price and Tyler Pullen (Chattanooga) 8-0
Carl Abalos and Carson Kadi (S. Miss) def. Gaerthoeffner and Heflin, 8-5