Feb. 24, 2002

The University of Denver men's tennis team dropped its fourth-straight match, falling to Arkansas-Little Rock, 4-3, Sunday (Feb. 24). The Pioneers fall to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in Sun Belt Conference play.

Denver opened the match, winning all three on the doubles courts to earn the first point. Senior Trevor Young and sophomore Urban Ljubic defeated UALR's Luciano Diez and Alexei Poutchinets, 8-4 on the No. 1 court. At second doubles, senior Magnus Ramfelt and sophomore Hans Peter Gaber defeated Mariano Pettigrosso and Mithum Murali, 9-7. On the third court, Denver's tandem of freshman Jason Tan and sophomore Bob Matteson topped the Trojans? pair of Juan Carlos Baca and Francisco Patagani, 8-5.

The Pioneers won just two of the six singles matches, however, en route to the 4-3 loss. Ljubic won his match at No. 2 singles, defeating Diez, 7-5, 7-6, while Tan earned a victory at No. 4 singles, topping Poutchinets, 6-4, 6-3.

The Pioneers (2-5, 0-3) will return to the Mile High City to open the 2001-02 home schedule, Thrusday and Friday. Denver will host Missouri-Kansas City on Thursday (Feb. 28) at 2 p.m., and will entertain Montana State Friday (Mar. 1) at 1 p.m. Both matches are scheduled to be played at Denver?s Stapleton Tennis Pavilion, but could be moved in case of weahter. In case of inclement weather, Thursday's match will be played indoors at the Air Force Academy at 6 p.m., while Friday's match will be played indoors at Meadow Creek Racquet Club at 8 p.m.

RESULTS
Singles
#1 - Mariano Pettigrosso (UALR) def. Magnus Ramfelt, 6-2, 6-3
#2 - Urban Ljubic (DEN) def. Luciano Diez, 7-5, 7-6
#3 - Juan Carlos Baca (UALR) def. Hans Peter Gaber, 6-4, 6-3
#4 - Jason Tan (DEN) def. Alexei Poutchinets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3
#5 - Mithum Murali (UALR) def. Trevor Young, 6-4, 6-4
#6 - Jarred Bunt (UALR) def. Lachlan Menzies, 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Young/Ljubic (DEN) def. Diez/Poutchinets, 8-4
#2 - Ramfelt/Gaber (DEN) def. Pettigrosso/Murali, 9-7
#3 - Tan/Bob Matteson (DEN) def. Baca/Francisco Patagani, 8-5