Tulsa, Okla. – BYU’s Jack Barnett and Wally Thayne were eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the ITA Men’s All-American Champions Monday after three close matches. The duo each had a singles match on Saturday before competing in doubles together on Monday.
“Jack and Wally played a solid doubles match, coming up big in the first set tiebreaker. Following a one break second set we fell short in the doubles match tiebreaker. We all learned lessons and are ready for the UCSB tournament later this week,” head coach Dave Porter said.
The fall collegiate national championship was invite only, with entries determined by a player’s preseason rankings and UTR.
Singles
Fons Van Sambeek (New Mexico) def. Jack Barnett (BYU) 7-6 (3), 6-2
Trailing 4-5 in set one, Barnett rallied to force a set tiebreaker, which was eventually won by Van Sambeek. The Lobo then maintained control of the match throughout the second set to secure the victory. The match was Barnett’s first singles appearance in seven months after battling an injury last season.
Pau Fanlo (Memphis) def. Wally Thayne (BYU) 7-5, 7-6 (11)
Despite ultimately dropping the match, Thayne forced Fanlo through multiple tiebreakers in each set. In the second, Thayne got past three match points while down 6-5 to force a set tiebreaker. He then trailed six points to one in the first to seven tiebreak before surviving five more match points to extend the match further. From there, Thayne had a few opportunities to win the set before ultimately falling 13-11, staving off three more match points (11 total throughout the set) along the way.
Doubles
Beasley/Story (South Carolina) def. Barnett/Thayne (BYU) 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-2
The Cougars picked up the first set in a doubles match that was just as tight as Barnett and Thayne’s singles matches. After Beasley and Story won set two, the final set was decided by a 10-point tiebreaker, which was again won by the South Carolina duo. Barnett and Thayne are now 3-2 together all-time.
BYU returns to the court this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8, when the team travels to the UC Santa Barbara Classic. The Gauchos are hosting the competition from their Arnhold Tennis Center.