March 7, 2006

Results

The Alabama A&M men's tennis team, after a tough start to the season, are 1 win short of .500. A 7-0 win in Nashville against Tennessee State helped get them to 4-5 overall.

The men got the scoring underway by winning the doubles point. With injuries and 1 player not making the trip, the doubles and singles lineups were makeshift but effective. Willis Mbandi was joined at #1 doubles by Arda Kaytan. They played well together and won 8-2. The #2 doubles team of Shingie Nyagura and Adande Piggott was intact, but not without injuries; however, their experience paid dividends en route to an 8-1 win. At #3, Cardinas Campbell and Jamal Turner teamed up to get an 8-1 win in their first matchup.

In singles, the men were just as productive as in doubles. Willis Mbandi took down TSU's Dickerson in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, at #1 singles. Shingie Nyagura also won in straight sets over TSU's Evans, 6-1, 6-1. Arda Kaytan moved up to #3 singles and was just as effective as he has been at #'s 4 and 5 with a 6-1, 6-0 win. Cardinas Campbell stepped up to #4 singles and scored a 6-3, 6-3 win over TSU's Mosley. Jamal Turner, having played 2 matches earlier at #6 singles, moved to #5 and won the final 9 games of his match to win 6-4, 6-0. Freshman Joseph Bradley, in his first appearance of the year, played well in getting a 6-1, 7-6 win at #6.

"We usually give out a game ball after each match, and without a doubt, that would go to Joseph," commented Bulldogs coach Thomas Colvin. "He has worked really hard all year and while I wasn't sure about him using a year of eligibility, he showed that he is ready to compete for a bit more time."