Sunday, January 29
Lubbock, Texas
12:00 PM
Texas Tech Athletics
1
vs
4
Florida State
Men's Tennis Defeated by FSU at ITA Kick-Off
January 29, 2017 | Men's Tennis
Texas Tech faces a pair of SEC opponents, Alabama and Vanderbilt, on the road next weekend.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech men's tennis team was handed back-to-back losses as Florida State emerged with a 4-1 decision Sunday at the McLeod Tennis Center as part of ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
The Red Raiders (2-3) have lost consecutive matches for the first time since falling to Baylor and Texas to conclude the 2015 regular season.
"We just need to get better at every little thing," Texas Tech head coach Brett Masi said. "We've got a completely different team than last year. These guys just have to realize that even though they are playing in different spots than they're used to doesn't mean the level of competition is any different. If we practice better, if we stay focused and if we are disciplined – we will eventually play the bigger points better. I think today we had a lot better effort than we did yesterday against Iowa, but in the big moments we didn't have quite what we needed to get us through and win those big points."
The Seminoles (6-2) captured the doubles point and the early 1-0 edge behind a pair of 6-3 decisions on courts two and three. Texas Tech's Ronit Bisht and Pyry Hyrkkönen jumped out to a 3-1 advantage, but Terrell and Terrence Whitehurst reeled off five straight games to earn the win at the No. 3 spot.
Moments later, FSU's Jose Gracia and Lucas Poullain tucked away their 6-3 victory over Connor Curry and Carlos DiLaura at the No. 2 position. When play was halted, No. 60 Alex Sendegeya and Bjorn Thomson of Texas Tech were locked in a 4-4 draw with Aziz Dougaz and Alex Knaff.
Florida State stretched its lead to 3-0 on the strength of straight-set wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, respectively. Gracia came away with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Curry whereas Poullain took down Sendedeya in a tightly-contested 6-4, 6-3 matchup.
Ronit Bisht put the Red Raiders on the board and extended his winning streak to three. He dismissed Terrell Whitehurst by a 6-3, 6-4 margin on court five. Bisht won the final three games of the first set and carried that momentum into an early 2-0 edge in set two.
Trailing by a set and 4-2, DiLaura was poised for a comeback at the bottom of the lineup. He ran off four straight games to even match and grabbed an early 2-1 advantage in the deciding frame. However, FSU's Rana Roop Bhullar charged back with five straight games of his own to notch a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 decision and clinch the 4-1 final score.
"Ronit competed hard this weekend in singles and did a great job for us," Masi said. "I think he is starting to feel more comfortable out there." "Yelling isn't going to win matches, but expressing yourself will help, and he needs that."
Texas Tech's Jolan Cailleau, ranked No. 25 in the nation, was on the doorstep of victory and was ahead by a 6-3, 2-6, 5-2 margin versus No. 71 Dougaz on court one when play was stopped. Thomson was facing a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 0-2 deficit against FSU's Terrance Whitehurst at the No. 4 position.
"We just need to find ways to get ourselves a little bit better confidence right now," Masi said. "We don't have the luxury of having a couple weeks off. We're going to go on the road and be together as our own little system. We've got to get ready for Alabama now."
Texas Tech hits the road to face two SEC opponents in Alabama and Vanderbilt next weekend. First up is a Friday 6 p.m. CT matchup with the Crimson Tide followed by a 9 a.m. CT Sunday tilt versus the Commodores.
The Red Raiders next home matches is a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 10 against UTSA and Abilene Christian. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT at the McLeod Tennis Center. Admission is free to all home matches with free pizza served for all fans while supplies last.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the Texas Tech men's tennis program. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.facebook.com/Techmenstennis and @TexasTechTennis on Twitter.
Florida State 4, Texas Tech 1
January 29, 2017 – McLeod Tennis Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Singles
1 – No. 25 Jolan Cailleau (TTU) vs. No. 71 Aziz Dougaz (FSU): 6-3, 2-6, 5-2, unfinished
2 – Lucas Poullain (FSU) defeats Alex Sendegeya (TTU): 6-4, 6-3
3 – Jose Gracia (FSU) defeats No. 104 Connor Curry (TTU): 7-5, 6-2
4 – Bjorn Thomson (TTU) Terrance Whitehurst (FSU): 6-7 (3), 6-4, 0-2, unfinished
5 – No. 120 Ronit Bisht (TTU) defeats Terrell Whitehurst (FSU): 6-3, 6-4
6 – Rana Roop Bhullar (FSU) defeats Carlos DiLaura (TTU): 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 5, 6
Doubles
1 – No. 60 Alex Sendegeya/Bjorn Thomson (TTU) vs. Aziz Dougaz/Alex Knaff (FSU): 4-4, unfinished
2 – Jose Gracia/Lucas Poullain (FSU) defeats Connor Curry/Carlos DiLaura (TTU): 6-3
3 – Terrell Whitehurst/Terrance Whitehurst (FSU) defeats Ronit Bisht/Pyry Hyrkkönen (TTU): 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Texas Tech (2-3)
Florida State (6-2)
The Red Raiders (2-3) have lost consecutive matches for the first time since falling to Baylor and Texas to conclude the 2015 regular season.
"We just need to get better at every little thing," Texas Tech head coach Brett Masi said. "We've got a completely different team than last year. These guys just have to realize that even though they are playing in different spots than they're used to doesn't mean the level of competition is any different. If we practice better, if we stay focused and if we are disciplined – we will eventually play the bigger points better. I think today we had a lot better effort than we did yesterday against Iowa, but in the big moments we didn't have quite what we needed to get us through and win those big points."
The Seminoles (6-2) captured the doubles point and the early 1-0 edge behind a pair of 6-3 decisions on courts two and three. Texas Tech's Ronit Bisht and Pyry Hyrkkönen jumped out to a 3-1 advantage, but Terrell and Terrence Whitehurst reeled off five straight games to earn the win at the No. 3 spot.
Moments later, FSU's Jose Gracia and Lucas Poullain tucked away their 6-3 victory over Connor Curry and Carlos DiLaura at the No. 2 position. When play was halted, No. 60 Alex Sendegeya and Bjorn Thomson of Texas Tech were locked in a 4-4 draw with Aziz Dougaz and Alex Knaff.
Florida State stretched its lead to 3-0 on the strength of straight-set wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, respectively. Gracia came away with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Curry whereas Poullain took down Sendedeya in a tightly-contested 6-4, 6-3 matchup.
Ronit Bisht put the Red Raiders on the board and extended his winning streak to three. He dismissed Terrell Whitehurst by a 6-3, 6-4 margin on court five. Bisht won the final three games of the first set and carried that momentum into an early 2-0 edge in set two.
Trailing by a set and 4-2, DiLaura was poised for a comeback at the bottom of the lineup. He ran off four straight games to even match and grabbed an early 2-1 advantage in the deciding frame. However, FSU's Rana Roop Bhullar charged back with five straight games of his own to notch a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 decision and clinch the 4-1 final score.
"Ronit competed hard this weekend in singles and did a great job for us," Masi said. "I think he is starting to feel more comfortable out there." "Yelling isn't going to win matches, but expressing yourself will help, and he needs that."
Texas Tech's Jolan Cailleau, ranked No. 25 in the nation, was on the doorstep of victory and was ahead by a 6-3, 2-6, 5-2 margin versus No. 71 Dougaz on court one when play was stopped. Thomson was facing a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 0-2 deficit against FSU's Terrance Whitehurst at the No. 4 position.
"We just need to find ways to get ourselves a little bit better confidence right now," Masi said. "We don't have the luxury of having a couple weeks off. We're going to go on the road and be together as our own little system. We've got to get ready for Alabama now."
Texas Tech hits the road to face two SEC opponents in Alabama and Vanderbilt next weekend. First up is a Friday 6 p.m. CT matchup with the Crimson Tide followed by a 9 a.m. CT Sunday tilt versus the Commodores.
The Red Raiders next home matches is a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 10 against UTSA and Abilene Christian. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT at the McLeod Tennis Center. Admission is free to all home matches with free pizza served for all fans while supplies last.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the Texas Tech men's tennis program. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.facebook.com/Techmenstennis and @TexasTechTennis on Twitter.
Florida State 4, Texas Tech 1
January 29, 2017 – McLeod Tennis Center (Lubbock, Texas)
Singles
1 – No. 25 Jolan Cailleau (TTU) vs. No. 71 Aziz Dougaz (FSU): 6-3, 2-6, 5-2, unfinished
2 – Lucas Poullain (FSU) defeats Alex Sendegeya (TTU): 6-4, 6-3
3 – Jose Gracia (FSU) defeats No. 104 Connor Curry (TTU): 7-5, 6-2
4 – Bjorn Thomson (TTU) Terrance Whitehurst (FSU): 6-7 (3), 6-4, 0-2, unfinished
5 – No. 120 Ronit Bisht (TTU) defeats Terrell Whitehurst (FSU): 6-3, 6-4
6 – Rana Roop Bhullar (FSU) defeats Carlos DiLaura (TTU): 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 5, 6
Doubles
1 – No. 60 Alex Sendegeya/Bjorn Thomson (TTU) vs. Aziz Dougaz/Alex Knaff (FSU): 4-4, unfinished
2 – Jose Gracia/Lucas Poullain (FSU) defeats Connor Curry/Carlos DiLaura (TTU): 6-3
3 – Terrell Whitehurst/Terrance Whitehurst (FSU) defeats Ronit Bisht/Pyry Hyrkkönen (TTU): 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Texas Tech (2-3)
Florida State (6-2)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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