Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Toledo
Hoosiers Split Matches at Louisville
2/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 36 Indiana men’s tennis team picked up a 4-1 victory against Toledo, but dropped a 5-0 decision against host No. 38 Louisville at the Bass Rudd Tennis Center on Wednesday.
In the opening match against Toledo, the Hoosiers (7-3) split the first two doubles matches and the doubles point came down to the No. 1 doubles match, which went to a tiebreaker. After a tough battle Juniors Sam Monette and Daniel Bednarczyk prevailed in the tiebreak 12-10.
The Hoosiers carried that momentum into singles, where they won the first set in five out of six singles matches.
“That was a big match for Toledo and we knew they would be ready,” IU head coach Jeremy Wurtzman said. “We had a tight doubles point that was very competitive and showed high level tennis being played. I thought we carried that momentum into singles and won a lot of first sets. It was good to come away with a win.”
The Indiana four-six players came through with straight set victories to give Indiana the four points they needed. Sophomore Stefan Lugonjic picked up a quick 6-3, 6-0 victory, while sophomore Matthew McCoy (6-4, 6-4) and senior Sven Lalic (6-1, 6-3) followed. Freshman Raheel Manji and Bednarczyk took the first set of their matches, which went unfinished in the second set.
In the second match of the day against Louisville, the Cardinals took the first doubles match, but the Hoosiers came back with a 6-2 win from Maji and Lalic. Once again the doubles point came down to the No. 1 doubles match and once again it came down to a tiebreaker. This time it was Louisville, who won the tiebreak 7-4 and took the doubles point.
Louisville won the first two singles matches behind ranked players including the No. 5 player in the country, Seb Stiefelmeyer. Monette battled Stiefelmeyer in the first set and lost a tiebreak before dropping the second set. Louisville also won matches at No. 3 and No. 6 singles to pickup the 5-0 victory.
“The doubles point was as close as it gets,” Wurtzman said. “We had match point and didn’t convert and it went to a tiebreak. They played a little better and it didn’t go our way. The doubles point was big. You put yourself in a hole that is tough to get out of.”
“I think there is a lot we can take from these matches today,” Wurtzman added. “We have played a lot of highly ranked players and good teams in tough environments on the road. Hopefully we will be ready for our upcoming matches at Washington this weekend because of what we did today.”
Up next the Hoosiers head west to battle Saint Mary’s and Washington in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday Feb. 28.
No. 36 Indiana 4, Toledo 1
Singles
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1. Stjepan Sisko (TOL) def. Sam Monette (IU) 6-4, 6-3 |
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2. Mark Singnil (TOL) vs. Raheel Manji (IU) 6-4, 3-3 unfinished |
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3. Nicky Wong (TOL) vs. Matthew McCoy (IU) 7-6 (3), 2-1 unfinished |
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4. Sven Lalic (IU) def. Omar Espinosa (TOL) 6-4, 6-4 |
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5. Stefan Lugonjic (IU) def. Roberto Meza (TOL) 6-1, 6-3 |
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6. Chris Essick (IU) def. Stephen Miller (TOL) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
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Players Mentioned
