The University of Memphis men’s tennis team rode Ben Stapp’s lightning-fast serves to a win over the Murray State Racers Wednesday.
Memphis swept all phases of the competition to win 7-0.
The No. 65 Tigers’ (11-6, 2-1 in C-USA) No.1 doubles team of Stapp and Lee Taylor Walker put away Thiago Gondim and Zakaria Bahr of the two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Racers 8-3.
“I think (Walker and I) are beginning to get it back together now, which is good,” Stapp said. “We had such a long winning streak from fall coming into spring. Then we got a little stale and had a few average teams beat us and it’s just hard to get back out of that.”
Stapp and Walker are currently ranked No. 52 in the ITA college doubles rankings and do seem to be hitting their stride once again.
The duo has won five of their last six matches, while the team extended it’s winning streak to six and it seems like almost every player is beginning to find their rhythm.
Sophomore Alex Bucewicz has won 13 of his last 15 singles matches, Brendan Malarkey and Joe Schmulian have each won their last five singles matches and Stapp has won 9 of his last 10 in singles play.
Memphis coach Phil Chamberlain liked what he saw Wednesday as the Tigers swept the three doubles matches and all six of the singles matches against Murray State (6-9, 1-1 in OVC).
Senior Joe Schmulian earned his tenth singles win of the season with a victory over Racer Adam Maskill 6-4, 6-3.
Walker and Bucewicz were the last two Tigers to finish off their opponents.
Bucewicz defeated Masimba Muskwe 7-5, 6-4 to earn a point for Memphis. Walker beat Zakaria Bahri 7-6, 6-4 to close out the Racers.
Chamberlain said his team is hitting a stride.
“They’re looking strong,” Chamberlain said. “They are playing well.”
Stapp said he believes he and Walker are rediscovering the solidarity that earned them a No. 12 ranking earlier this year. The pair fell down in the rankings after dropping five of six matches in early March.
“Lee’s getting it back together again and we’re gelling together better,” Stapp said. “(The ability for us to win) has always been there, but for a while we just weren’t able to get it done.”
Memphis can now look ahead to a critical match this Sunday when they take on No. 74 New Orleans on the road.
New Orleans has won 13 of their last 16 matches and are led by super frosh Viktor Loven, who is ranked No. 74 overall in men’s singles having gone 15-3 and winning his last 11 consecutive matches in his short career.
