EKU Wins Three, Three-Set Matches To Edge Murray State Men's Tennis, 4-3

Thursday, March 9

Lexington, Ky.

2:00 p.m.

Murray State

vs. Eastern Kentucky University

EKU Wins Three, Three-Set Matches To Edge Murray State Men's Tennis, 4-3

3/9/2006 6:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Murray State University's men's tennis team came up on the short end of three, three-set matches today against Eastern Kentucky University and the Colonels edged the Racers 4-3 at the Greg Adams Tennis Center in Richmond, Ky. With the match tied 3-3, EKU's Billy Pfaffinger beat Clayton Clark, 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4, to give the Colonels the victory.

MSU drops to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Eastern Kentucky improves to 4-8 on the season and 1-2 in the OVC.

After Pfaffinger won the first set of the decisive number six singles match, Clark broke serve in the 10^th game of set number two to force a third set. The two players held serve until Pfaffinger picked up a break of serve at four-all. He then held serve to finish the contest.

The number three and four singles matches went the full three sets as well. At number three Nicholas Ksiezopolski shutout EKU's Mel Segota 6-0 in the first set. Segota didn't give up. He fought off three match points in the second set to force a third set, which he won 6-3. At number four singles, MSU's Hunter Gerlach lost the first set 6-4 to Vadzim Ivanis but rebounded to win the second set 6-0. Ivanis took the third 6-2.

The day appeared to belong to the Racers after Murray State opened by winning all three doubles matches. Fadi Zamjaoui and Dmytro Hryhorash lost just two games in defeating Eastern Kentucky's duo of Tom Wospil and Pfaffinger, 8-2, at number one doubles. Gerlach and Jeff Lester beat Lars Gratzki and Segota, 8-3, at number two doubles.

The only victories in singles play for Murray State came at number two and number five singles. Hryhorash took down Wospil in straight sets at number two, 6-4 and 6-2. Lester did the same to Frederico Goncalves at number five, winning 6-2 and 6-3.

The Racers will be back in action on Friday when they face Morehead State University at 2 p.m., in Morehead, Ky.

Tennis Match Results
Murray State University vs Eastern Kentucky University
Mar. 9, 2006 at Richmond, Ky. (Greg Adams Tennis Center)

Eastern Kentucky 4, Murray State 3

Doubles competition:
1. Fadi Zamjaoui/Dmytro Hryhorash (MUR) def. Tom Wospil/Billy Pfaffinger (EKU) 8-2
2. Hunter Gerlach/Jeff Lester (MUR) def. Lars Gratzki/Mel Segota (EKU) 8-3
3. Nicholas Ksiezopolski/Clayton Clark (MUR) def. Frederico Goncalves/Vadzim Ivanis (EKU) 8-6

Singles competition:
1. Lars Gratzki (EKU) def. Fadi Zamjaoui (MUR) 6-4, 7-5
2. Dmytro Hryhorash (MUR) def. Tom Wospil (EKU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Mel Segota (EKU) def. Nicholas Ksiezopolski (MUR) 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
4. Vadzim Ivanis (EKU) def. Hunter Gerlach (MUR) 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
5. Jeff Lester (MUR) def. Frederico Goncalves (EKU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Billy Pfaffinger (EKU) def. Clayton Clark (MUR) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky 4-8 (1-2 OVC)
Murray State 1-5 (0-1 OVC)