Men's Tennis Rallies to Down FAMU in Home Opener

Saturday, January 21

Boca Raton, Fla.

12:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Florida A&M

1/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Jan. 21, 2012

Final Stats

Boca Raton, FL - The Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team showed fortitude and determination in a 4-3 comeback victory over Florida A&M University on Saturday for its first victory of the season.

Playing its first home match of the spring season, FAU lost two of the three doubles matches before responding to grab momentum by winning the first set in four of the six singles matches.

"We trailed after doubles, but quickly gained a foundation in the match with solid starts in singles," said Brandon Stokes, FAU's head men's tennis coach. "Taylor and Chris created an Owls' wave at the top of the singles throughout our entire singles' lineup. This was crucial to our team's success."

The visiting Rattlers picked up a straight-set victory 7-5, 6-1 at the No. 3 singles to take a 2-0 lead. The advantage was short-lived with wins by freshmen Chris Janssen and Sean Bacha. Janssen dropped only three games to win at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-1 before Bacha was victorious 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 5 position.

With the match tied, 2-2, FAMU won the next match at No. 4 singles 7-5, 6-2. However, that's the last point that the Owls would relinquish, winning the next two matches. Junior Taylor Albrecht won 6-2, 7-5 over FAMU's Salif Kante atop the singles' lineup, and freshman Boris Bogomolov, playing in his first collegiate match, clinched the team victory with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph at No. 6 singles.

"This was an exciting college match. This is proof that college tennis is the best team sport out there," said Stokes.

The Owls return to the court on Saturday, January 28, against another in-state foe, Bethune-Cookman University, at 2 p.m. from Patch Reef Park, 1200 Yamato Road in Boca Raton. View Coach Stokes' blog at http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-tennis/coachesblog2011.html. More details of this match will be added to his blog later.

Thank you to the local residents, FAU students and staff, and Patch Reef patrons for cheering our team! It is a significant impact!" said Stokes.

Singles

No. 1 Taylor Albrecht (FAU) def. Salif Kante (FAMU) 6-2, 7-5

No. 2 Chris Janssen (FAU) def. Levan Clark (FAMU) 6-2, 6-1

No. 3 Takura Happy (FAMU) def. Will Neuner (FAU) 7-5, 6-1

No. 4 Chidi Gabriel (FAMU) def. Robert Dubuque (FAU) 7-5, 6-2

No. 5 Sean Bach (FAU) def. Fabrice Myrtil (FAMU) 6-4, 6-2

No. 6 Boris Bogomolov (FAU) def. Temeura Asafu-Adjaye (FAMU) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles

No. 1 Kante/Gabriel (FAMU) def. Albrecht/Neuner (FAU) 8-5

No. 2 Janssen/Bogomolov (FAU) def. Myrtil/Clark (FAMU) 8-7 (5)

No. 3 Asafu-Adjaye/Happy (FAMU) def. Bacha/Dubuque (FAU) 8-6