Men's Tennis Can't Stack Up To Pirates

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The top-ranked Barry Buccaneers could not stack up with the Armstrong Atlantic Pirates, dropping a 5-4 decision to the defending national champs at Embry-Riddle’s Crotty Tennis Center on Friday.

The Bucs (11-1) grabbed a 2-1 lead after doubles, winning at the top two flights. Max Wimmer and Emanuel Fraitzl defeated AASU’s Paul Bishop and Mikk Irdoja 8-4 at the top spot, while Andrew Sharnov and Ales Svigelj handled Edualdo Bonet and Rafael Array 8-5 at number two. At the bottom flight, the Pirates (11-1) took the point, with Paul Fitzgerald and Tim Johannsen defeating Jakub Fejfar and Marcello D’Armas 8-4.

In singles, the Pirates well-stacked lineup proved to be the difference. Top-ranked singles player Bonet defeated Barry’s fourth-ranked Svigelj 6-2, 6-3 at number one and Irdoja topped #25 Sharnov 6-3, 6-3 at number three. Paul Fitzgerald made it 4-2 Pirates with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Roman Werschel at number five. Johannsen, who defeated Barry’s Patrick Rittenauer at number one in the national championship match last May, played at number six and clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Fejfar.

The Bucs got two points after the team match was decided by winning super tie-breakers. Number 33 Fraitzl upset #11 Bishop 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 at number two and Wimmer knocked off #37 Array 6-3, 0-6, 10-4 at number four.

The Bucs play Embry-Riddle on Saturday and Flagler on Sunday before returning home.

Tennis Match Results
Armstrong Atlantic vs Barry
03/13/09 at Daytona Beach, FL
(ERAU Courts)

#5 Armstrong Atlantic 5, #1 Barry 4

Singles competition
1. #1 Edualdo Bonet (AASU) def. #4 Ales Svigelj (BUM) 6-2, 6-3
2. #33 Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) def. #11 Paul Bishop (AASU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
3. Mikk Irdoja (AASU) def. #25 Andrew Sharnov (BUM) 6-3, 6-3
4. Max Wimmer (BUM) def. #37 Rafael Array (AASU) 6-3, 0-6, 10-4
5. Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. Roman Werschel (BUM) 6-2, 6-2
6. #21 Tim Johannsen (AASU) def. Jakub Fejfar (BUM) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Max Wimmer/Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) def. Paul Bishop/Mikk Irdoja (AASU) 8-4
2. Andrew Sharnov/Ales Svigelj (BUM) def. Edualdo Bonet/Rafael Array (AASU) 8-5
3. Paul Fitzgerald/Tim Johannsen (AASU) def. Jakub Fejfar/Sergio Velez (BUM) 8-4

Match Notes:
Armstrong Atlantic 11-1; National ranking #5
Barry 11-1; National ranking #1