Jan. 31, 2015 Final Stats
BEAUMONT, Texas - A fast start helped the Lamar men's tennis team take the doubles point and the first three singles matches that secured its 7-0 win over Seminole State on Saturday at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
Jeandre Hoogenboezem and Mikko Rajamaki locked up the first doubles match in decisive fashion, 6-1, on court three. They defeated Nick Bell and Cesar Reyna. From there, they stood and cheered as Benny Schweizer and Juuso Laitinen downed Guy Iradukunda and Ismael Mzai on court one, 7-5, to take the doubles point.
"I felt doubles was better today. We were challenged at lines one and two, and took care of business at line three," said head coach Scott Shankles. "It was a nice lift going into singles after winning the doubles point."
Trey Crysel and Michael Feucht lost a heartbreaker in the doubles match, and fell to Alex Clerihew and Ian Sioux on court two.
"Semionle was playing us tough and continued to go back-and-fourth," said Shankles. "In the end we were able to get a quick win at three and got the clincher at one."
Rajamaki dominated Clerihew on court four, 6-0, 6-0, to make it 2-0 in Lamar's favor just before Hoogenboezem upped it to 3-0 after he beat Sioux, 6-2, 6-1 on court three.
"When you win the doubles point, you feel good about the position you're in. Mikko is a senior and knows how important a fast start as an individual is," said Shankles. "Jeandre is learning and starting to get off early.
"From there the other guys see we're up and that gets them relaxed and less tense. It allows them to hit freely," he said.
Steven McMullan wrapped up the win from court six when he defeated Reyna, 6-0, 6-4. Laitinen came off the courts fourth after a 6-0, 6-4 win over Kennan Dishman on court five.
Michael Feucht, who played in the No. 1 slot, defeated Iradukunda, the top player at the junior college level, 7-5, 6-3. Benny Schweizer finished off the match with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Mzai.
"I'm especially proud of Benny getting his first collegiate wins in singles and doubles," said Shankles. "He played more relaxed and was hitting the ball very clean. There will be many more from him."
The Cardinals will hit the courts next in a doubleheader on Feb. 6, first at Prairie View A&M 10 o'clock and then at Rice at 5 o'clock.
"I really look forward to next week's practices and preparing for our next set of matches on the road and at home," said Shankles.
Lamar 7, Seminole State 0
Thompson Family Tennis Center
Lamar 2-1, Seminole State 0-1
Singles:
No. 1 Michael Feucht (LU) def. Iradukunda (Seminole) 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 Benny Schweizer (LU) def. Mzai (Seminole) 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Jeandre Hoogenboezem (LU) def. Ian Sioux (Seminole) 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Mikko Rajamaki (LU) def. Alex Clerihew (Seminole) 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 Juuso Laitinen (LU) def. Dishman (Seminole) 6-0, 6-4
No. 6 Steven McMullan (LU) def. Cesar Reyna (Semiole) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles:
No. 1 Juuso Laitinen/ Benny Schweizer (LU) def. Iradukunda/Mzai (Seminole) 7-5
No. 2 Clerihew/Sioux (Seminole) def. Michael Feucht/ Trey Crysel (LU) 7-6 (4)
No. 3 Mikko Rajamaki/ Jeandre Hoogenboezem (LU) def. Bell/Reyna (Seminole) 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (4, 3, 6, 5, 1, 2)
