Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Ousted from National Clay Court Tournament
9/24/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 24, 1999
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State?s top two players were both shown the door at the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championship in Pikesville, Md.
Olivier Le Jeune battled the tournament?s No. 1 seed Ryan Sachire of Notre Dame. Early in the match, Le Jeune was up a few set points, but eventually could not hold off the charging Sachire. The No. 1 seeded Sachire finished off Le Jeune in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Fresno State?s Peter Luczak had a didn't fare any better in his consolation match with Tennessee?s Adam Carey. Luczak fell to Carey 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
"I?ts too bad. Olivier had Sachire down 4-2 and 40-15 in the first set, almost up 5-2 with two breaks," said Fresno State men?s tennis coach Michael Hegarty. "The opportunity slipped through Ollie?s fingers though, Sachire held 3-4, then broke him (Le Jeune) at 4-4.
"As usual, Peter competed like a champion, but he?s just as thrilled as I am that only hardcourt matches lie ahead of him this season."
Le Jeune?s has posted a 2-1 record, while Luczak is 1-2 on the young season.
"I think it was a healthy reality check that we need to totally rediscover our yard dog hunger if the promised land is to await us come WAC and NCAA tournament time," said Hegarty.
Le Jeune and Luczak with join teammate David Mullins at the Charles Fluitt Invitational in Lexington, Ky., Oct. 2-4. The Bulldogs? Nick Fustar, Andy Scorteanu and Rob Cheyne will participate at the ITA/World Team Championships in Stanford, Calif., that same weekend.
