LAFAYETTE, LA. – The LSU men’s tennis team secured five doubles wins and four singles wins on the first day of the Cajun Classic at the City Club at River Ranch and Oakbourne Country Club.
Doubles quarterfinals
Three Tiger doubles took the field in doubles competition. Pair no. 53, Julien Penzlin and Welsh Hotard took on Tim Riedel and Diego Dalisay of Tyler Junior College, winning the match 6-3.
Ben Koch and George Stoupe went up against Nicholls State’s Ricardo Machado and Jacob Krefting. The Tigers secured the victory 6-3.
Will Cubitt and Benjamin Ambrosio faced Olimjon Nabiev and Thomas Garberino, a combined duo from Southern Miss and Louisiana respectively. LSU took the game 7-5.
Doubles semi-finals
All three Tigers pairs advanced to compete in the semifinals. Penzlin and Hotard opposed Sanchez Gonzalez and Karlo Caji of Louisiana. The pair fell 1-6.
Next, Koch and Stoupe faced South Alabama’s Maxime St-Hilaire and Sebastien Collard. The pair of Tigres quickly made the match winning 6-2.
Cubitt and Ambrosio appeared in court against William Ribero of Louisiana and Oriol Fillat Gimenez. LSU defeated the Cajuns 6-4.
First Round Singles
Five players took the field in singles play. Stoupe faced Tulane’s Fynn Kuenkler, winning the match in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
Penzlin went up against Filat Gimenez of Louisiana. Tiger fell in the first set 4-6 before rallying to win the match 6-4, 7-5.
On the other side of the court, Ambrosio challenged Tyler Junior College’s Persson, making quick work of the match for a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Koch competed against Nicholls State’s Machado. Koch won one set 7-5 before going on to win the match 6-2 in the second set.
Cubitt met Mikaeel Woodman from Tyler Junior College in the yard. Tiger fought hard but lost the match 4-6, 4-6.
The next one
The four Tigers will advance to the singles quarterfinals tomorrow. Stoupe will face Shamirul Shahril and Ambrosio will oppose Saheb Sodhi, both Southern Misses, Penzlin will compete against Louis Delcour of South Alabama and Koch will go up against Vasil Dimitrov of Louisiana.
The doubleheader will resume on Sunday. Stoupe and Koch will face Alex Bancila and Rafael de Alba of Tulane and Cubitt and Ambrosio will compete against Persson and Faiz Nasyam of Tyler Junior College.
For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access to the Tigers, follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @LSUTennis and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsutennis.
Doubles quarterfinals
No. 53 Julien Penzlin/Welsh Hotard (LSU) def. Tim Riedel/Diego Dalisay (TJC) 6-3
George Stoupe/Ben Koch (LSU) def. Ricardo Machado/Jacob Krefting (NSU) 6-3
Will Cubitt/Benjamin Ambrosio (LSU) def. Olimjon Nabiev/Thomas Garberino (USM/ULL) 7-5
Doubles semi-finals
Sanchez Gonzalez/Karlo Kajin (ULL) def. No. 53 Julien Penzlin/Welsh Hotard (LSU) 1-6
George Stoupe/Ben Koch (LSU) def. Maxime St-Hilaire/Sebastien Collard (USA) 6-2
Will Cubitt/Benjamin Ambrosio (LSU) final William Ribero/Oriol Fillat Gimenez (ULL) 6-4
First Round Singles
George Stoupe (LSU) def. Fynn Kuenkler (TUL) 6-4, 6-3
Julien Penzlin (LSU) final Oriol Filat Gimenez (ULL) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Benjamin Ambrosio (LSU) def. Dan Persson (TJC) 6-1, 6-1
Ben Koch (LSU) def. Ricardo Machado (Nicholls) 7-5, 6-2
Mikaeel Woodman (TJC) def. Will Cubitt (LSU) 4-6, 4-6
