Temple University Athletics
Temple Battles Injuries To Defeat Richmond, 4-3
2.14.09 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 13, 2009
RICHMOND, VA - Despite missing its first singles player (Filip Rams) due to injury, and his replacement (Ricardo Velazquez) having to retire due to injury, the Temple men's tennis team defeated conference rival Richmond, 4-3, on Friday at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center. The Owls improve to 2-0 at Arthur Ashe this season.
The Cherry and White (3-5) opened by winning the doubles point. At second doubles, junior Pavlos Stephanides and freshman Mansur Gishkaev beat Rafael Arana and AJ Nelson, 8-6. At third doubles, senior Nathan Spunda and freshman Dmitry Vizhunov defeated William Minter and Matthew Feeley, 9-8 (4).
The doubles point proved to be the difference as each team captured three singles matches. Temple won the second through fourth spots with Spunda, Vizhunov and Gishkaev all coming out victorious.
Spunda won at second singles over William Minter, 6-1, 6-2, while Vizhunov beat Rafael Arana, 6-0, 6-0. Gishkaev beat Feeley, 6-3, 6-2, at fourth singles.
Richmond falls to 0-7 on the season.
TU returns to Arthur Ashe on Friday to take on Drexel at noon in a men's/women's doubleheader.
