Men's Tennis Topped by No. 22 Alabama

Friday, February 8

Louisville, Ky.

2:00 PM ET

University of Louisville

Alabama

February 08, 2002 | Men's Tennis

Feb. 8, 2002

Louisville, Ky. -

The University of Louisville men's tennis team fell to the 22nd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 4-3 Friday at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

The Cardinals opened the match when Cody Conley and Octavian Nicodim combined to defeat the 41st ranked duo of Alabama's Stephen Mitchell and Maxim Belski 8-6 at the top seed. Louisville's Alex Sivertsen and Adam Maskill lost to Alabama's Chris Gostek and Chris McRae 8-4 at the two-spot. At No. 3 doubles, Louisville's Matt Mayer and Brent McCombe were topped by Alabama's Nicolas-John Beuque and Brad Friedman 9-8 (4).

In single's action, Conley was defeated by No. 36 ranked Maxim Belski 6-3, 7-6 (6) at the No. 1 position. At the two spot, Paulo Carvalho beat No. 96 ranked Chris Gostek 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 while Sivertsen lost 7-5, 6-3 to Mitchell at the three spot. Mayer lost the first set 5-7 before Christian Brodersen retired from play with Mayer leading 3-2 to give U of L its second singles point. Nicodim followed with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over Beuque at No. 5 and at the sixth spot Sebastian Aspillaga lost to McRae 6-2, 6-2. Alabama improves to 3-1 on the season.

"This was another close match. We're definitely close to the level of the other teams. We need that one win that will get that monkey off our back to give us the confidence we need to beat the top teams, " said head coach Rex Ecarma. "Cody Conley and Octavian Nicodim had a big doubles win as well as Nicodim winning his singles match. Paulo Carvalho single's win is his second in a row against a ranked player."

Louisville (3-4) will travel to East Lansing, Michigan to play Michigan State on Sunday, February 10 at noon.

Louisville men's tennis results 2/8/02

Alabama - 4 Louisville - 3

SINGLES1 - Maxim Belski (UA) d. Cody Conley (UL) 6-3, 7-6(6)2 - Paulo Carvalho (UL) d. Chris Gostek (UA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-43 - Stephen Mitchell (UA) d. Alex Sivertsen (UL) 7-5, 6-34 - Matt Mayer (UL) d. Christian Brodersen (UA) 5-7, 3-2, ret.5 - Octavian Nicodim (UL) d. Nicolas John-Beuque (UA) 7-6(4), 6-26 - Chris McRae (UA) d. Sebastian Aspillaga (UL) 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES1 - Conley/Nicodim (UL) d. Mitchell/Belski 8-62 - Gostek/McRae (UA) d. Sivertsen/Adam Maskill 8-43 - Beuque/Brad Friedman (UA) d. Mayer/Brent McCombe 9-8 (4)