LOUISVILLE  - Austin Peay State University men's tennis team was shutout in its season opener, 7-0, Thursday, at Louisville.

While the Govs came up empty against the Cards, head coach Malik Tabet was able to evaluate his young team against strong competition and he liked what he saw.

"We have talent, I can see it," Tabet said. "We have to get a better understanding of how to play with a strategy. Once we can create a game plan and stick to it, we'll begin to make better choices. We have to be able to play with a pattern and be more disciplined. Without that, we're playing backwards tennis."

The Govs played without sophomore Jasmin Ademovic, who was sidelined with an injury, but moved junior Sean Bailey into No. 1, followed by freshman Dimitar Ristovski at No. 2. Ristovski had the Govs best result in a straight-set (6-4, 6-1) loss. Freshman Michal Hrciste (6-3, 6-1) also played well at No. 4 singles.

On the doubles side, Bailey and Ristovski fell 8-3 at No. 1, while Hrciste and freshman Iago Seffrin lost 8-1 at No. 2. Sophomore John Storie and freshman Aleksas Tverjonas dropped an 8-2 match at No. 3.

"Louisville played with a good discipline," Tabet said. "They play high percentage tennis at high level. It was a good experience for our guys."

Singles

1 - Michael Lippens (UL) d. Sean Bailey (AP) 6-0, 6-2
2 - Andrew Carter (UL) d. Dimitar Ristovski (AP) 6-4, 6-1
3 - Sebastian Stiefelmeyer (UL) Iago Seffrin (AP) 6-0, 6-2
4 - Albert Wagner (UL) d. Aleksas Tverijonas (AP) 6-0, 6-0
5 - Robert Hall (UL) d. Michal Hrciste (AP) 6-3, 6-1
6 - Luis Elizondo (UL) d. John Storie (AP) 6-1, 6-3

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

Doubles

1 - Carter/Stiefelmeyer (UL) d. Bailey/Ristovski (AP) 8-3
2 - Sumit Gupta/Damrongsri (UL) d. Ademovic/Seffrin (AP) 8-1
3 - Hall/Wagner (UL) d. Storie/Tverjonas(AP) 8-2

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

-AP-