Feb. 2, 2008
Results - MSU vs. Toledo
Results - MSU vs. IUPUI
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team competed in two matches on Saturday, entertaining Toledo and IUPUI at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility in East Lansing. The Spartans dominated competition in the doubleheader, losing only three points all day, as they defeated Toledo, 5-2, then followed up with a 6-1 victory over the Jaguars.
In the first match of the day, Michigan State came out and took a quick lead, sweeping all three doubles matches from Toledo. It wasn't easy for the Spartans; however, as the Rockets took two matches into tiebreakers. At No. 2 doubles, MSU's Alex Forger and Billy Gardner narrowly defeated Toledo's Chris Clark and Sven Burus, 9-8 (4), while MSU's John Allare and John Stratton pulled out a close one against Gursher Harika and Jay Miller, 9-8 (3), at No. 3. At No. 1, Nick Rinks and Adam Monich extended their doubles win streak to 3-0, downing Jared Miller and Nutthavit Likitkumchorn, 8-5.
In singles play, MSU took control of the match, taking flights 1-4. No. 1 singles Rinks extended his unbeaten streak to 8-0 in dual-match play this season, taking out Jared Miller in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, while Monich stayed undefeated as well, beating Likitkumchorn at No. 4 singles, 7-5, 6-3. At No. 3, Allare picked up his fifth win of the season, defeating Burus, 6-3, 6-4. No. 2 singles was the closest match of the competition, as Forger had a big come-from-behind win against Toledo's Clark. Forger lost the first set, 6-4, but exploded in the second and third, and pulled out an impressive 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
"I liked how we responded today against Toledo, especially in the doubles matches," said MSU head coach Gene Orlando. "They fought us hard in doubles and we rose to the occasion. We were able to step up and close it out when the match was tight. The same goes for singles, they came out playing us tough, and we came back to win some key first sets."
Michigan State's strong play continued in its second matchup of the day, as it came out and swept IUPUI for the doubles point, 8-3, 8-2, 8-2. Rinks made his first appearance of the season at No. 2 doubles, teaming up with Clark Richardson, and pulling out an 8-3 win against Blake Powers and E.J. Dechow. Stratton and Allare picked up their second victory of the day at No. 3, as they crushed Josh Kutch and Jesus Diaz, 8-2.
MSU dominated IUPUI in singles, taking No. 1 and flights 3-6. Monich picked up his first win of the year at No. 1, defeating Gabriel Garcia, 6-3, 3-6, (10-6). At No. 6, Stratton, who saw his first singles action of the spring season, dropped Kutch, 6-2, 6-1.
"The match against IUPUI had a different make-up," said Orlando. "I wanted to get court time for some of our younger guys. We tried some new doubles combinations. I paired a younger guy with an older player in each match, and I think that worked well for us. We moved some guys up in singles as well, and they responded to the challenge, so I'm proud of them for that."
The Spartans travel to Oklahoma for a two-match road trip against No. 23 Tulsa and No. 19 Oklahoma State next weekend. MSU will face off against the Golden Hurricanes on Friday, Feb. 8, then take on the Cowboys on Saturday, Feb. 9.
