Mid-American Conference

MAC Men's Tennis Weekend Scoreboard

Friday, March 27
Northern Illinois 4, Western Michigan 3 
Old Dominion 6, Binghamton 1
Toledo 6, Ball State 1

Saturday, March 28
Harvard 6, Buffalo 1
Illinois State 4, Binghamton 3

Sunday, March 29
DePaul 4, Binghamton 3
Western Michigan 4, Xavier 3


Ball State:

Cardinals Lose MAC Opener at Toledo, 6-1

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Ball State men's tennis team (8-9, 0-1 MAC) suffered a 6-1 road loss at Toledo (11-12, 1-0 MAC) in its first Mid-American Conference competition of the season.

"This was a very disappointing performance and certainly not the start we wanted in the conference," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "I give Toledo all the credit. They outplayed us and out competed us. It was very confusing to watch. At this time of year You want to take a step forward but we put it in reverse today. It will be interesting to see how we respond this week."

The MAC Doubles Team of the Week, Lucas Andersen and Patrick Elliott defeated Stjepan Sisko and Omar Espinosa of Toledo 6-2 on the top court but the Cardinals proceeded to lose the next two doubles matches to the Rockets to give them the 1-0 edge heading into singles action.

Toledo took five of the six singles matches from the Cardinals.  Elliott earned the lone point for the Cardinals after beating Nicky Wong on court three in three sets.  Elliott dropped the first set 6-1 but fought back to take the next two sets from Wong, 6-4, 6-4 for the victory.

The Ball State men's tennis team returns to non-conference action Wednesday at 2 p.m. on the road at Butler.


Binghamton:

Bearcats Fall to DePaul, 4-3

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Despite winning the doubles point for a second straight match, Binghamton men's tennis dropped four of the six singles matches and suffered a 4-3 setback to DePaul in the team's final match of the Middle Tennessee State Shootout Sunday morning.

The Bearcats rode wins at the top two doubles spots to seize the early 1-0 lead. But the BIG EAST member Blue Demons won at the bottom of the singles lineup to notch the narrow win.

Junior No. 1 Sid Hazarika was strong in his 6-2, 6-4 win and senior No. 3 Ismael Dinia made it two wins in a row with his commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory. Each also won his doubles match as BU juggled its pairings and came away with the opening point.

"I'm very proud of the way we battled today," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "Ismael (Dinia) really stepped up as a leader today to control the doubles match at No. 1 and get us the early lead. Then he kept the intensity and execution up in singles to put us up 2-0. If we continue to battle like we did in the last two matches we are going to be ready for our last MAC matches and that's the most important t focus right now."

Binghamton (2-14, 0-2 MAC) hosts MAC rival Buffalo on Wednesday in a key conference match.

DePaul 4, Binghamton 3
DOUBLES
1. Shah/Dinia (BU) def. Vieyra/Feilzer (DPU), 7-5
2. Kote/Hazarika (BU) def. Galoustian/de Veer (DPU), 6-4
3. Johnson/Renke (DPU) def. Lesage/Notaris (BU), 6-2
SINGLES
1. Sid Hazarika (BU) def. David Vieyra (DPU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Alex Galoustian (DPU) def. Robin Lesage (BU), 6-2, 7-5
3. Ismael Dinia (BU) def. Nathan de Veer (DPU), 6-1, 6-0
4. Kyle Johnson (DPU) def. Frenk Kote (BU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Jan-Willem Feilzer (DPU) def. Thomas Caputo (BU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Tim Corwin (DPU) def. Douglas Notaris (BU), 6-1, 7-6 (5)


Men's Tennis Drops 4-3 Decision To Illinois State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Binghamton men's tennis captured the doubles point but Illinois State won four of the six singles matches to pin a 4-3 loss on the Bearcats Saturday at the Middle Tennessee Shootout. The match was held indoors at the Nashboro Village Athletic Club.

The Bearcats earned the doubles point when the No. 2 tandem of senior Robin Lesage and junior Eliott Hureau pulled out a 7-6 (6) tiebreak win. Earlier, sophomores Frenk Kote and Douglas Notaris posted a 6-2 win at the third spot.

Ahead 1-0, BU split the first four completed singles matches with senior No. 3 Ismael Dinia and sophomore No. 6 Thomas Caputo winning in straight sets. Clinging to a 3-2 lead, BU dropped the final two singles matches - each in three sets.  

"We battled very hard and showed great composure responding to adversity today," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "We kept letting opportunities slip to finish the doubles point but we didn't let that rattle us and we were able to break through there and grab a 1-0 lead. We kept the same mindset in the singles but just didn't finish off enough leads late in sets. Hats off to ISU for their fight today."

Illinois State 4, Binghamton 3
DOUBLES
1. Eisner/Terrellas (ISU) def. Hazarika/Dinia (BU), 6-3
2. Lesage/Hureau (BU) def. Greve/Steffens (ISU), 7-6 (6)
3. Kote/Notaris (BU) def. Wilson/Samuels (ISU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,3,2

SINGLES
1. Jakub Eisner (ISU) def. Sid Hazarika (BU), 7-5, 7-6 (7)
2. Jacob Wilson (ISU) def. Robin Lesage (BU), 6-1, 6-1
3. Ismael Dinia (BU) def. Rolando Torrellas (ISU), 6-3, 6-4
4. Christoffer Greve (ISU) def. Eliott Hureau (BU), 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (7)
5. Dylan Steffens (ISU) def. Frenk Kote (BU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
6. Thomas Caputo (BU) def. Rory Samuels (ISU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2,3,1,6,4,5


Bearcats Drop Opener At Middle Tennessee State Tournament

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Binghamton men's tennis dropped its opening match at the Middle Tennessee Shootout on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 61 Old Dominion 6-1 at the Middle Tennessee State University Courts. In the eight-team bracket, which spans three days, BU (2-12) drew the top-seeded Monarchs (11-1), who also beat the Bearcats four weeks ago. It was the eighth time in the last 10 matches that BU has played against a nationally-ranked opponent.

ODU took the doubles point with the first two completed matches and then won five of the six singles matches - all in straight sets. The Bearcats got their win at No. 3 when junior Eliott Hureau scored a 7-6, 6-4 victory. It was Hureau's 10th win of the season.

"For our first match outdoors of the season there were some bright spots," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "We were making good adjustments in most of our first sets but we weren't able to keep that up enough at critical moments and all the way through matches. Eliott (Hureau) played a very solid match. He was able to continue and attack, which was what he struggled with the last time out against Windl, so it was great to see him turn that into a win. We need to have a short memory as we will back on court with another opportunity to compete."

The Bearcats will play their second match (of three) Saturday morning against fifth-seeded Illinois State.

No. 61 ODU 6, Binghamton 1
DOUBLES
1. Moundir/Weindl (ODU) def. Lesage/Hureau (BU), 6-2
2. Maestre/Villa (ODU) led Dinia/Shah (BU), 4-3, unfinished
3. Podvinski/Lanthiez (ODU) def. Hazarika/Kote (BU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3,1

SINGLES
1. Carlos Lopez Villa (ODU) def. Sid Hazarika (BU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Adam Moundir (ODU) def. Ismael Dinia (BU), 6-2, 7-6 (8)
3. Eliott Hureau (BU) def. Michael Weindl (ODU), 7-6, 6-4
4. Javier Jover Maestre (ODU) def. Frenk Kote (BU), 6-4, 6-3
5. Theophile Lanthiez (ODU) def. Douglas Notaris (BU), 7-6, 6-1
6. Zvonimir Podvinski (ODU) def. Vihar Shah (BU), 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,1,2,4,3,5


Buffalo:

Men's Tennis Falls at Harvard, 6-1

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York men's tennis team concluded non-conference play Saturday against 33rd-ranked Harvard at the Murr Tennis Center. The Crimson (13-5) defeated the Bulls (8-7), 6-1.

UB dropped the doubles point, having lost at 6-2 first and third doubles. Juniors Pablo Alvarez and Amar Hromic suffered a 7-6 (6) setback at the second spot. Alvarez picked up the Bulls' lone singles victory, defeating Sebastian Beltrame, 6-4, 6-3, at second singles. Sophomore Jonathan Hannestad took Alex Steinroeder to three, but dropped a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 decision at fourth singles.

Six of UB's seven losses have come to nationally-ranked teams.

The Bulls will open Mid-American Conference play on Wednesday at Binghamton.

DOUBLES
No. 1: #15 Nguyen/Yeung (HU) def. Hannestad/Arevalillo (UB), 6-2
No. 2: Beltrame/Hu (HU) def. Hromic/Alvarez (UB), 7-6 (6)
No. 3: Steinroeder/Tao def. Mehta/David (UB), 6-2

SINGLES
No. 1: #38 Denis Nguyen (HU) def. Damien David (UB), 6-4, 6-1
No. 2: Pablo Alvarez (UB) def. Sebastian Beltrame (HU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 3: #120 Nicky Hu (HU) def. Amar Hromic (UB), 6-4, 7-6
No. 4: Alex Steinroeder (HU) def. Jonathan Hannestad (UB), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
No. 5: Shaun Chaudhuri (HU) def. Sergio Arevalillo (UB), 6-2, 6-1
No. 6: Grant Solomon (HU) def. Akhil Mehta (UB), 6-3, 6-4


Northern Illinois:

Huskies Down Broncos To Remain Perfect In MAC Play

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team improved to 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference, 14-4 overall, with a 4-3 victory over Western Michigan on Friday afternoon at Boylan Tennis Center.

"We certainly weren't picked to win this match but the guys played hard and came ready to play today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "I thought we set the tone in doubles. We had some opportunities to close it out earlier but when you have a young team like we do you have to battle some nerves, and I think that is what happened today. We battled our nerves in some key moments but we worked through it and that was the difference.

"Western Michigan is a strong team, they have a lot of experience in a lot of spots and that is why they are picked to finish top of the league. Every match in conference is big and we are in good position but that doesn't guarantee anything and we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

In doubles play, the Huskies jumped out to a quick start as senior Frederic Cadieux (Verdun, Quebec, Canada/Ediuard-Montpetit) and freshman Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) earned a 6-2 win over Stephen Payne and Matt Hamilton at number two.

The matches at one and three both went down to the wire with freshmen Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) and Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) outlasting Maik Steiner and Ruben Greiner at number one, 7-6, to clinch the point. The match at number three was not completed.

Western Michigan took the first two singles points, winning at number two and six, but the Huskies responded with victories at four and five to pull within a point of the victory.

Freshman Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Hamilton at number four to earn his 17th victory of the season. Sophomore Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) then finished off a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Pablo Mora at number five, his 16th win of the year, to pull NIU within a point of the win.

The Huskies sealed the victory as Cadieux held off Jefta Kecic, 6-4, 7-5, at number one to give NIU the victory.

NIU will return to action on Saturday, April 4, when the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind., to visit the Ball State Cardinals.

NIU 4, Western Michigan 3

Doubles
1. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Maik Steiner/Ruben Greiner (WMU), 7-6 (4)
2. Frederic Cadieux/Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Stephen Payne/Matt Hamilton (WMU), 6-2
3. Simon Formont/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) vs. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU), 6-6 (unfinished)

Singles
1. Frederic Cadieux (NIU) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU), 6-4, 7-5
2. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Simon Formont (NIU), 6-3, 6-3
3. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Matt Hamilton (WMU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) def. Pablo Mora (WMU), 6-2, 6-4
6. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 6-4, 6-4


Toledo:

Rockets Down Cardinals, 6-1

TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo men's tennis team (11-12) started its Mid-American Conference slate on a high note, defeating defending conference champion Ball State 6-1 on Friday at Shadow Valley Tennis Club.

"We proved again we have a high ceiling with this strong opener," head coach Al Wermer said. "The guys had their minds in the right place today and I was impressed by the performance."

UT scored the first point in the match by clinching the doubles point with two wins in doubles play.

The doubles point came down to the final court, as senior Mark Singnil and junior Garrett Cona scored a 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot and the Midnight Blue & Gold dropped a 6-2 decision at the top doubles spot.

The senior duo of Roberto Meza and Nicky Wong battled at No. 3 doubles before coming out on top by the score of 6-4.

In singles play, the Rockets dominated, winning five of the six matchups.

Sophomore Stjepan Sisko improved to 16-2 on the season with a straight set, 6-4, 6-2, win at the top singles spot. It was his seventh win in a row.

At No. 2 singles, Singnil won in a tiebreaker in the first set, then closed out BSU's Lucas Andersen by the final score of 7-6, 6-3 for his 11th win of the year.

Freshman Omar Espinosa also won in straight sets at No. 4 singles, while Meza and freshman Stephen Miller held on for three-set victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

The Rockets continue MAC play with a match at Binghamton on Saturday, April 4.


Western Michigan:

Broncos Pick Up 4-3 Road Win At Xavier

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Western Michigan men’s tennis team staved off elimination and came back from a 3-1 deficit on the road on Saturday, winning three straight singles matches down the stretch to overcome the Xavier Musketeers for a 4-3 victory. With the win, the Broncos improve to 16-5 overall on the season.
Despite taking the doubles point against the Musketeers, the Broncos trailed Xavier 3-1 in the overall match after falling in each of the first three singles matches on the court. WMU did not falter, however, battling back for victories in marathon sessions in the Nos. 2 and 6 singles matches and a straight-sets win at No. 3.

Senior Pablo Mora clinched the team win with a win at No. 6 singles, beating Gabriel Chaves Araujo to seal the win. Mora eked out a first-set tiebreaker against Araujo, winning 7-6 (4), but then fell 6-2 in the second set to tie the match. With the team victory on the line, Mora held off Araujo for a 7-5 win in the third set to give the Broncos the victory.

The Broncos started the afternoon by winning the doubles session with the Musketeers, with the pairing of Matt Hamilton and Stephen Payne opening things up with a 6-2 win over Jeremy Schneider and Michael Moe in the No. 2 doubles match. Jefta Kecic and Jimmy Beckwith closed out the session and earned the crucial doubles point for the Broncos with a 7-6 (3) win over Araujo and Arthur Stefani in the No. 3 doubles match.

Xavier claimed the first three singles matches of the session, with Stefani beating Andrew Cahn in three sets to make it a 3-1 advantage for the Musketeers. Hamilton started the comeback in earnest with a straight-sets in over Matt Bishop in the No. 3 singles match, winning 7-6 (3), 6-4 to make it 3-2. Ruben Greiner tied the match up with a comeback victory over Schneider in the No. 2 singles match, coming back from a one-set deficit to win 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), and Mora closed out the match with the win over Araujo.

Singles

1. Zach Mueck (XU) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Jeremy Schneider (XU) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
3. Matt Hamilton (WMU) def. Matt Bishop (XU) 7-6 (3), 6-4
4. Arthur Stefani (XU) def. Andrew Cahn (WMU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
5. Michael Moe (XU) def. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Pablo Mora (WMU) def. Gabriel Chaves Araujo (XU) 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-5

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

Doubles

1. Zach Mueck/Matt Bishop (XU) def. Marc Shideler/Ruben Greiner (WMU) 6-4
2. Matt Hamilton/Stephen Payne (WMU) def. Jeremy Schneider/Michael Moe (XU) 6-2
3. Jefta Kecic/Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) def. Arthur Stefani/Gabriel Chaves Araujo XU 7-6 (3)

Order of Finish: 2,1,3


Men's Tennis Falls To Northern Illinois

DEKALB, Ill. – The Western Michigan men’s tennis team nearly came back from an early deficit to collect their second Mid-American Conference win of the season, but the Northern Illinois Huskies beat the Broncos 4-3 in a match played in DeKalb on Friday. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 15-5 on the season, 1-1 against MAC opponents.

The Huskies took the doubles point against WMU, but the Broncos stormed back by taking the first two singles matches on the court to take a 2-1 advantage. Jimmy Beckwith started things off with a straight-sets win over Georg Lundkvist in the No. 6 singles match, winning 6-4, 6-4, and Maik Steiner cruised past Simon Formont 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles match.

However, the Huskies rallied back and won three straight singles matches to take the match win. Ruben Greiner picked up a three-set singles win to give the Broncos one more notch in the ledger, though, beating Louis-Philippe Hamel 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to wrap the scoring for WMU>

Northern Illinois 4, Western Michigan 3

Singles

1. Frederic Cadieux (NIU) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Simon Formont (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Tom Hjertonsson (WMU) def. Matt Hamilton (WMU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) def. Pablo Mora (WMU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-4, 6-4

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

Doubles

1. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Maik Steiner/Ruben Greiner (WMU) 7-6 (4)
2. Frederic Cadieux/Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Matt Hamilton/Stephen Payne (WMU) 6-2
3. Jefta Kecic/Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) led Simon Formont/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 6-6 (3-1)

Order of finish: 2,1