Tulane University
Southern
Men's Tennis Opens Spring With Victory
Jan 23, 2002 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 23, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University opened the 2002 spring season with a convincing 6-1 victory over Southern University on Wednesday afternoon at the Goldring Tennis Complex.
In the season opener for both teams, the No. 31-ranked Green Wave set the tone in doubles action, winning both matches. Junior Jorge Lievano (Bucaramanga, Colombia) and sophomore Hannu Piiroinen (Tampere, Finland) won 8-3 at No. 1, while sophomore Goran Vasiljevic (Varmo, Switzerland) and junior Mattias Westerberg (Lulea, Sweden) won 8-4 at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point.
Lievano then cruised through his match at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Westerberg won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2. Making his debut for the Green Wave, after redshirting last season, Piiroinen cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 3, while Vasiljevic won at fourth singles.
Tulane returns to action this Saturday, playing in Tulsa, Okla., against either Hampton University of Oral Roberts. The Wave plays at Tulsa on Sunday.
Results: No. 31 Tulane 5, Southern 2
Doubles:
1. Leivano/Piiroinen (TU) def. Ensignia/Ncube (SU): 8-3
2. Vasiljevic/Westerberg (TU) def. Pernell/Date (SU): 8-4
3. SU wins by default.
Singles:
1. Jorge Lievano (TU) def. David Ensignia (SU): 6-0, 6-0
2. Mattias Westerberg (TU) def. Alex Hidalgo (SU): 6-2, 6-4
3. Hannu Piiroinen (TU) def. Tommie Pernell (SU): 6-2, 6-2
4. Goran Vasiljevic (TU) def. Benjamin Ncube (SU): 6-3, 6-4
5. Michael Date (SU) def. Tatsuhiro Ishii (TU): 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
6. SU wins by default.
Records:
Tulane (1-0)
Southern (0-1)
Players Mentioned
