AuburnTigers.com
    Auburn Drops A Pair Of Matches At ITA Kick-Off Weekend The Tigers fell 4-2 to No. 18 Duke on Saturday and lost to No. 23 Arizona, 4-0, Sunday
    Tim Puetz

    Tim Puetz

    Jan. 31, 2010

    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 22 Auburn men's tennis team participated in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend tournament Saturday and Sunday, hosted by Alabama. The Tigers fell 4-2 to No. 18 Duke on Saturday and lost to No. 23 Arizona, 4-0, Sunday.

    "It was a really tough weekend for our young team," said head coach Eric Shore. "It was a real eye-opener for the four young guys and they saw the level of play that this team needs to get to. Both matches gave this team more experience and will make us stronger."

    Auburn (0-2) faced the Blue Devils in a tough, six-hour match on Saturday afternoon, falling 4-2 to the 18th-ranked team in the country. Junior Tim Puetz led the team, picking up a pair of wins in the match. The sixth-ranked singles player topped No. 17 Henrique Cunha in three sets (6-7, 6-3, 6-3). He and partner Alex Stamchev came away with the close 8-6 victory over No. 8 Reid Carleton and Cunha.

    Freshmen Alexander Sajonz and Tim Hewitt picked up Auburn's other win against Duke, defeating Dylan Arnould and Torsten Wietoska, 9-7, to secure the doubles point for the Tigers.

    The Tigers took on Arizona on day two of the tournament, losing 4-0 to the Wildcats. Arizona opened the day strong, winning two of three doubles matches to take the doubles point. No. 6 Puetz and Stamchev were locked in a 5-5 set with Pat Metham and Borja Malo before play was stopped.

    Puetz was battling with Jason Zafiros in the No. 1 singles spot before play was suspended. Puetz won the first set, 6-3, and the two were tied in the second set, 6-6. No. 86 Stamchev took the first set over Andres Arango, 7-5, and was down 2-1 in the second set before competition ended.

     

     

    The Tigers open up the dual season on the road as the team heads to UAB to take on the Blazers in Birmingham. The match is set for 12 p.m. at the Lakeshore Tennis Center.

    ITA Kick-Off Weekend: Against Duke
    Singles
    1. No. 24 Tim Puetz (Auburn) def. No. 17 Henrique Cunha (Duke); 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
    2. Reid Carleton (Duke) def. Tim Hewitt (Auburn); 7-6, 6-2
    3. No. 62 Dylan Arnould (Duke) def. No. 86 Alex Stamchev (Auburn); 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (3)
    4. No. 77 Torsten Wietoska (Duke) def. Andreas Mies (Auburn); 6-2, 6-4
    5. Jared Pinsky (Duke) vs. Alexander Sajonz (Auburn); 6-4, 2-5, unf.
    6. Alain Michel (Duke) def. Lucas Lopasso (Auburn); 6-0, 6-1

    Doubles
    1. No. 6 Puetz/Stamchev (Auburn) def. No. 8 Carleton/Cunha (Duke); 8-6
    2. Hewitt/Sajonz (Auburn) def. Arnould/Wietoska (Duke); 9-7
    3. Pinsky/Michel (Duke) def. Mies/Strecker (Auburn); 8-4

    Match Notes
    Auburn 0-1; National ranking #22
    Duke 2-0; National ranking #18
    No. 6 singles clinched the match

    Against Arizona
    Singles
    1. No. 24 Tim Puetz (Auburn) vs. No. 113 Jason Zafiros (Arizona); 6-3, 6-6, unf.
    2. Tim Hewitt (Auburn) vs. Andres Carrasco (Arizona); 3-6, 2-1, unf.
    3. No. 86 Alex Stamchev (Auburn) vs. Andres Arango (Arizona); 7-5, 1-2, unf.
    4. Borja Malo (Arizona) def. Andreas Mies (Auburn); 6-4, 6-2
    5. Geoff Embry (Arizona) def. Alexander Sajonz (Auburn); 6-2, 6-2
    6. Pat Metham (Arizona) def. Nick Maurillo (Auburn); 6-2, 6-2

    Doubles
    1. Puetz/Stamchev (Auburn) vs. Metham/Malo (Arizona); 5-5, unf.
    2. Embry/Hazi (Arizona) def. Hewitt/Sajonz (Auburn); 8-2
    3. Carrasco/Arango (Arizona) def. Mies/Strecker (Auburn); 8-3

    Auburn Tiger Features

    2012 Fan Guide iOS App: FREE Shop
    Louisville Slugger Shop