TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's tennis team defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a 4-3 thriller on Friday night at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to an overall 4-2 record, while Texas Tech falls to 2-4.

"Tonight was special for our team," said head coach George Husack . "Again doubles proved to be huge and the freshmen came up big. Great to see this team grow from these moments. It builds character and thicker skin. Very happy for them."

Texas Tech's Ronit Bisht and Alex Sendegeya won a 6-2 decision on court two over freshman Alexey Nesterov and senior Ritchie Kruunenberg to begin doubles play. Alabama responded back, as freshmen Edson Ortiz and Thibault Cancel topped Carlos DiLaura and Pyry Hyrkkonen, 6-4, on court three. With the doubles point on the line, the Tide's 32nd-ranked doubles team in sophomores Mazen Osama and Spencer Richey defeated Jolan Cailleau and Bjorn Thomson in a 6-4 decision to give Alabama a 1-0 match lead headed into singles play.

"It was special to have the Alabama Army ROTC here supporting us," said Husack. "Our season began last August with Col. Goode and his staff welcoming our team to Fort McClellan and 72 hours of training. It's an invaluable partnership."

In singles play, Thomson defeated Richey (No. 3) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to equalize the match score at 1-1. The Tide replied by winning back-to-back matches in straight sets on courts two and six to take a 3-1 match lead. Alabama's 78th-ranked singles player Cancel (No. 2) dominated Sendegeya, 6-4, 6-3, before freshman Zhe Zhou (No. 6) notched DiLaura in a 7-5, 6-3 decision. The Red Raiders answered back, as Texas Tech's 120th-ranked singles player Bisht won a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Nesterov to trim Alabama's match lead to 3-2. Texas Tech went on to tie the match score at 3-3, as the Red Raiders' 25th-ranked singles player Jolan Cailleau won a 7-6, 6-4 decision over the Tide's 63rd-ranked singles player Osama. With the match point on the line, the gifted freshman Ortiz (No. 5) outlasted Hyrkkonen in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, to clinch the Alabama 4-3 match victory.

"Lastly, It was special on a personal level," said Husack. "Brett Masi, Texas Tech head coach, is a close friend of mine. I recruited him as a player. He was my first assistant coach at Santa Clara University. I filled his vacancy at USC and now we're both head coaches at great schools. Funny how coaching career paths go. Last time he won 4-3 so I guess we are even now. Who knows maybe we will face each other again in the Blue Gray tournament."

The Tide will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 5, as it is set to host the Clemson Tigers in a match that is set to start at 1 p.m. CT at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.

Sunday's match will serve as this year's Kids Day, with free pizza available to kids 12 years old and under. There will also be a bounce house and a tour of the tennis facility available to kids.

Alabama 4, Texas Tech 3

SINGLES RESULTS:

1. No. 25 Jolan Cailleau (Texas Tech) def. No. 63 Mazen Osama (Alabama) 7-6, 6-4

2. No. 78 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) def. Alex Sendegeya (Texas Tech) 6-4, 6-3

3. Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech) def. Spencer Richey (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2

4. No. 120 Ronit Bisht (Texas Tech) def. Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-4, 6-3

5. Edson Ortiz (Alabama) def. Pyry Hyrkkonen (Texas Tech) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

6. Zhe Zhou (Alabama) def. Carlos DiLaura (Texas Tech) 7-5, 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 2, 6, 4, 1, 5

DOUBLES RESULTS:

1. No. 32 Mazen Osama / Spencer Richey def. Jolan Bailleau/Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech) 6-4

2. Ronit Bisht/Alex Sendegeya (Texas Tech) def. Alexey Nesterov / Ritchie Kruunenberg (Alabama) 6-2

3. Edson Ortiz / Thibault Cancel (Alabama) def. Carlos DiLaura/Pyry Hyrkkonen (Texas Tech) 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

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