FLORENCE, Ala. (February 18, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team extended a five-match win streak Sunday with a 4-3 victory over Troy at the UNA Tennis Complex in Florence.
The five-match winning streak becomes the longest of UNA's Division I era and the longest since 2017. UNA also defeats Troy for the first time in 34 seasons, back when both teams were Division II. Troy won the last four meetings prior to Sunday.
North Alabama capped off the weekend unbeaten in two duals, defeating the Trojans after claiming a 5-2 win over North Dakota on Saturday.
The Lions struck first in doubles, claiming victories from Flights No. 2 and 3 for the first point. Nazar Fedoryshyn and Federico Scotuzzi got the first win from Flight No. 2 with a 6-4 over Mario Martinez Serrano and Carles Anton of Troy. Later, the team of Lachlan Brain and Izan Orgiles clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Troy's Benjamin Ambrosio and Noah Martens from the third flight.
It would be a back-and-forth affair in singles, with North Alabama and Troy alternating wins for the first four matches. Orgiles gained the first singles point with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Simkin at the No. 4 spot, but Troy had a 6-3, 6-2 response from Martinez Serrano over Alberto Altur at the top flight. Moments later, Scotuzzi gained the third UNA point with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Troy's Vincente Arbelaez Prati in Flight No. 6.
The Trojans pulled back within one after Troy's Anton defeated UNA's Brain in the second flight, 6-2, 6-1. The last two matches would go to competitive third sets, but the Lions were able to gain the winning point from the fourth flight, as Duran's 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Yeray Andres Pastor extended his singles win streak to five.
With UNA already winning the match, Troy would close the dual with a three-set win from Flight No. 3.
The Lions will carry their win streak into three duals the upcoming week, with the first dual coming at home against Alabama A&M. First serve from the UNA Tennis Complex will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22.
North Alabama 4, Troy 3
Doubles
1. Alberto Altur/Birtan Duran (UNA) vs. Yeray Andres Pastor/ Luciano Alcocer (TROY) 6-6, unfinished
2. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Federico Scotuzzi (UNA) def. Mario Martinez Serrano/Carles Anton (TROY) 6-4
3. Lachlan Brain/Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Benjamin Ambrosio/Noah Martens (TROY) 6-4
Singles
1. Mario Martinez Serrano (TROY) def. Alberto Altur (UNA) 6-3, 6-2
2. Carles Anton (TROY) def. Lachlan Brain (UNA) 6-2, 6-1
3. Noah Martens (TROY) def. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Nicolas Simkin (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
5. Birtan Duran (UNA) def. Yeray Andres Pastor (TROY) 6-0, 1-6, 6-4
6. Federico Scotuzzi (UNA) def. Vicente Arbelaez Prati (TROY) 6-1, 6-3
Match Notes
North Alabama 5-3
Troy 8-2
Order of Completion: Doubles (2,3) Singles (4,1,6,2,5,3)
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