Alabama men's tennis team downs Indiana

TUSCALOOSA | The 20th-ranked Alabama men’s tennis team improved to 8-3 by defeating the 56th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers 6-1 at the UA Varsity Courts.

The Tide dominated Indiana in doubles, winning at all three positions. Seniors Javier Bes and Sammy Struyf earned the first win over Mike McCarthy and Santiago Gruter at the No. 3 slot. At No. 1, the Tide’s Daniel Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau clinched the point with an 8-3 victory over Thomas Richter and Lachlan Ferguson.

Sophomore Saketh Myneni and junior Michael Jung pulled out the final win at No. 2 over Phillip Eilers and Dara McLoughlin, 8-5.

Buikema added the first Tide singles victory. He defeated Indiana’s Ferguson 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 4 position. With the win, Buikema improves to 6-0 in dual matches.

Struyf extended the Alabama lead to 3-0 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over McLaughlin at the No. 3 spot. Struyf overcame a 1-5 deficit in the first set to secure the point.

Bes clinched the match for the Tide at the No. 6 position. He defeated Gruter 6-3, 6-3. This is the second match Bes has clinched for the Tide this season.

Alabama returns to action at home next weekend to begin the conference season, hosting LSU and Arkansas.