COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State continued its home dominance with its seventh shutout of the season, defeating the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats 4-0 on Friday at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes (8-0) now improve their home win streak to 180 consecutive matches.
Ohio State had to dig deep in doubles, but rallied to take three singles matches. In doubles, redshirt sophomore Chris Diaz and redshirt freshman Ralf Steinbach dropped their set to Nils Ellefsen and Ryuji Hirooka 6-4 on court No. 3. Redshirt sophomore Hunter Callahan and freshman Herkko Pollanen were first to get on the board for the Buckeyes with a 6-5 (7-5) win on court No. 2 versus Alejandro Gomez and Beck Pennington. The doubles point came down to court No. 1 and the No. 7 duo of senior Peter Kobelt and redshirt junior Kevin Metka (saved a set point against Tom Jomby and Kevin Lai en route to winning their set 6-5 (8-6).
In singles play, the Buckeyes won the first set on five of the six courts and Steinbach was first to finish, downing No. 97 Kevin Lai 6-1, 6-2 on court No. 5. It was the first win versus a ranked opponent for Steinbach this year. Metka was next to finish, defeating Jerry Lopez 6-1, 6-3 on court No. 4 to put the Buckeyes ahead 3-0. No. 31 Kobelt sealed the victory for Ohio State with an ace, defeating No. 68 Jomby 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 and play was suspended on the remaining courts. Pollanen was up 3-2 in the final set against Gomez, while Callahan was tied 3-3 in his third set against Grant Robers. Diaz went down a set and a break before winning eight of the next 10 games, leading No. 55 Pennington 3-2 in the third was play was called.
No. 6 Baylor 7, Cameron 0
No. 6 Baylor 7, Louisiana-Lafayette 0
WACO, Texas -- Baylor extended its unbeaten streak to six matches with 7-0 wins against Cameron and Louisiana-Lafayette at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center on Friday.
The Bears stayed undefeated in doubles, taking the point against Cameron with wins on courts Nos. 1 and 3. The pairing of Julian Lenz and Robert Verzaal defeated Angelo Lencioni and Felipe Oyarzun 6-1, before Tony Lupieri and Robbie Korth took down Rory DeBoer and Dean Weigelt 6-2, to clinch the point.
Vince Schneider got the Bears off to a fast start in singles play securing the first point on court No. 4 with a 6-0, 6-1 win versus Lencioni. Robbie Korth clinched the match for BU on court No. 6 with a 6-1, 6-2 win versus Weigelt.
Baylor again got off to a fast start in doubles play against the Ragin' Cajuns, claiming the point with wins on courts Nos. 1 and 2. Diego Galeano and Tony Lupieri claimed the first Baylor victory on court No. 2 with a 6-2 win versus Rick de Groot and Jake Wynan. Playing in the one spot, Patrick Pradella and Mate Zsiga clinched the point by getting past Hunter and Yates Johnson 6-3.
In singles play, No. 92 Tony Lupieri completed a sweep of Will Huyton 6-0, 6-0 to give the Bears a 2-0 advantage in the match. No. 2 Lenz clinched the match for BU with a 6-1, 6-2 win versus Damion Farinola. This was Lenz's fourth consecutive match allowing less than five points.
No. 7 Oklahoma 4, No. 37 Florida State 0
TALLAHASSEE,Fla. -- Oklahoma swept Florida State 4-0 Friday in a match that featured an experimental format that put singles first
In the No. 3 position, Andrew Harris earned the first singles point for OU, ousting Cristian Gonzalez Mendez in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
Harrisâ doubles partner, Dane Webb, followed suit, beating Marco Nunez 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 4 spot.
Sophomore Axel Alvarez captured the third singles point for OU, defeating Blake Davis 7-5, 6-2 in the No. 2 position.
Guillermo Alcorta secured the Sooner victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win versus Dominic Cotrone.
Because of the experimental format, no doubles matches were played.
No. 19 Illinois 4, No. 8 Texas A&M 1
URBANA, Ill. -- Illinois knocked off the Texas A&M Aggies in a thrilling finish Friday night at the Atkins Tennis Center, claiming four conseuctive singles victories after dropping the doubles point.
The doubles point eluded the Orange and Blue once again, dropping the opening decision for the second time this week. Despite the fact, the newly formed team of Farris Gosea and Jared Hiltzik emerged with a 6-3 match victory on court No. 2.
No. 46 Tim Kopinski secured the first point for the Illini with a 6-1, 6-3 upset of No. 13 Jeremy Efferding on court No. 3. Fourth-ranked Jared Hiltzik shortly followed suit with a straight-set victory, defeating No. 38 Shane Visant 6-3, 6-2 on court No. 1.
With momentum and the lead, the Illini imposed their will on the Aggies in front of a raucous home crowd. The final two points didnât come easily for the Illini, as the Aggies fought to stretch out several matches into a third set. In a thrilling finish, the Illini secured the match victory with two consecutive tiebreak set victories.
Farris Gosea secured the first tiebreak set victory edging out No. 19 Harrison Adams in 7-5 second set tiebreak. Gosea defeated Adams 6-3, 6-5 (7-5) on court No. 2. Just as the Illini earned their third point, Blake Bazarnik was battling to secure a straight-set victory of his own and the Illini victory. Down 5-4 to Jackson Withrow on court No. 5, Bazarnik pushed the set to a tiebreak keeping the immediate hopes of an Illini victory alive. Despite a 5-3 tiebreak lead in favor of Bazarnik, Withrow rallied to even the tiebreak at 5-5. With neither giving up any ground, the dramatic tiebreak set wasnât resolved until Bazarnik claimed two consecutive points to win 9-7.
No. 10 Texas 5, No. 31 Michigan 2
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Texas remains unbeaten after a 5-2 win road against Michigan on Friday night at the indoor Varsity Tennis Center.
For the first time this season the Longhorns (7-0) lost the doubles point to begin the dual match with a 1-0 deficit on Michigan's home court. Texas responded with five consecutive wins in singles competition to cinch the match and boost its dual match singles record to 32-4 (.889).
"After Michigan jumped on us to earn the doubles point, our guys persevered and showed some fight and we were able to bounce with a good win," head coach Michael Center said. "This team is still developing and improving. With all the different match situations we have had this season -- at home, on the road, indoor, outdoor -- it is making us a stronger team."
The Wolverines fall to 3-3 on the season.
