Owls Open 2007 with a Victory

Sunday, January 21

Boca Raton, Fla.

12:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Jacksonville

1/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Jan. 22, 2007

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University's men's tennis team captured its first dual match of the 2007 season against Jacksonville University on Sunday.

The 6-1 victory may have been a grudge match in some eyes with the Dolphins ousting FAU 4-2 to end the 2006 season. But, the two teams are entirely revamped starting at the top.

FAU freshman Olivier Sajous, the highest ranked player in FAU's history at no. 63 nationally, fought back from 3-0 down in the third set to outlast a tenacious Jordi Ballester at no. 1 singles. Ballester joined JU after playing for Fresno State where he was victorious against both Pac-10 and Big 10 matches for the nationally ranked Bulldogs.

Freshman Daniel Vardag and sophomore Eddie Majcher were the first to score a point for FAU with an 8-3 double victory at no. 3. JU's Ernesto Ramos and Francisco Riveroll came from behind at no. 1 doubles to defeat FAU freshman Corey Smith and Karol Szmurlo 8-6. With the double point on the line FAU frosh team of Sajous and Lawrence Harradine held off a strong surge by Jordi Ballester and Francisco Riveroll. Up 6-1, the Owls saw JU push the match to 6-4 before nerve wracking exchanges earned FAU an 8-6 victory and the match's doubles point prior to the match break.

The Owls captured five of the first six sets in singles before Ballester challenged Sajous by winning the match's second set. Ballester yelled encouragement and his teammates responded by winning four of six second sets. FAU prevailed in each of the four third sets played to capture the match.

"The match was much closer than the score indicated," said head coach David Komie. "Jacksonville came to compete and I never felt the match was in the bag until we got the deciding point. Sajous and Smith did a great job of keeping their composure at the top of the lineup and by coming from behind in their third sets to pick up wins."

FAU will next travel to Florida State where the team will face 15th ranked Florida State and Furman who is ranked no. 71. FAU is also scheduled to meet Georgia State January 27-28.

Match Results
Singles:
#1: #63 Olivier Sajous, FAU def. Jordi Ballester, JU, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4
#2: Corey Smith, FAU def. Francisco Riveroll 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
#3: Karol Szmurlo, FAU def. Victor Vaz, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(8)
#4: Ernesto Ramos, JU def. Daniel Vardag 7-6(4), 6-2
#5: Eddie Majcher FAU def. Vinicius Craveiro 6-4, 6-4
#6: Mauricio Paiz, FAU def. Marcos Oliveira 6-0, 4-6, 6-0

Doubles
#1: Ramos/Riveroll, JU def. Smith/Szmurlo 8-6
#2: Sajous/Harradine, FAU def. Ballester/Craveiro 8-5
#3: Majcher/Vardag, FAU def. Oliveira/Vaz 8-3