April 28, 2005

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - Overcast skies and a threat of rain didn't delay the opening matches of the 2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Tennis Championship here at the University of Illinois's Atkins Tennis Center on Thursday (April 28). Eighth seeded Michigan State and seventh seeded Minnesota advanced to the tournament quarterfinals with 4-0 and 4-1 wins over Iowa and Wisconsin respectively.

 

The Spartans advance to play the top seed and defending champion Illinois on Friday (April 29) at 10:00 a.m. central time while the Golden Gophers will square-off with Ohio State, who enter the championship as the second seed. That match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

 

Both schools began their first round matches by winning the doubles point to take an early lead. Michigan State's tandems of Andy Formanczyk and Nick Rinks and Cameron Marshall and Michael Flowers won their doubles matches by identical 9-7 scores to give MSU the early advantage in its tilt with the Hawkeyes.

 

Avery Ticer and Adrien Debreyne and Nic Edlefsen and Raoul Schwark made quick work of their Badger opponents with 8-2 and 8-4 wins at number one and two doubles respectively. Ticer and Schwark would charge on to win their singles matches with Ticer claiming a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Alex Kasarov at number one singles and Schwark defeating Brian Ko 6-4, 6-1 at number five singles. Sophomore D.J. Gaetz clinched the match for the Golden Gophers with a 6-2, 6-2 win at number three singles over Lachezar Kasarov.

 

In three of the singles matches between the Spartans and Hawkeyes the winner of the first set lost the second set to his opponent. In the other three matches however, head coach Gene Orlando's squad pulled out wins to give MSU the four points necessary for the team win. Rinks and Marshall each made quick work of their opponents with Marshall notching a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kyle Markham at number two singles and Rinks pulling in a 6-2, 6-4 win over J.P. Ritchie in the third singles slot. Joe McWilliams wrapped up the victory for the Spartans with a win at number five doubles - 7-5, 7-5 - over Brett Taylor.

 

For Michigan State it is their second win over Iowa this season after defeating the Hawkeyes 6-1 on April 1^st. Minnesota avenged an April 8^th loss to the Badgers on its home court. Wisconsin won that match 7-0.

 

Michigan State 4, Iowa 0

 

Doubles

1) (MSU) Andy Formanczyk/Nick Rinks 9

    (IOWA) Kyle Markham/Brett Taylor 7

2) (MSU) Cameron Marshall/Michael Flowers 9

    (IOWA) Chaitu Malempati/Aaron Schaechterle 7

3) (MSU) Mike Brown/Adam Monich 3

    (IOWA) J.P. Ritchie/Bart van Monsjou 8

 

Singles

1) (MSU) Andy Formanczyk 6 1 (DNF)

    (IOWA) Chaitu Malempati 0 6

2) (MSU) Cameron Marshall 6 6

    (IOWA) Kyle Markham 4 2

3) (MSU) Nick Rinks 6 6

    (IOWA) J.P. Ritchie 2 4

4) (MSU) Adam Monich 3 6 (DNF)

    (IOWA) Bart van Monsjou 6 1

5) (MSU) Joe McWilliams 7 7

    (IOWA) Brett Taylor 5 5

6) (MSU) Michael Flowers 6 5 (DNF)

    (IOWA) Jonny Hoak 2 7

 

Minnesota 4, Wisconsin 1

 

Doubles

1) (MINN) Avery Ticer/Adrien Debreyne 8

(WIS) Alex Kasarov/Lachezar Kasarov 2

2) (MINN) Nic Edlefsen/Raoul Schwark 8

(WIS) Jordan Raemisch/Steve Guntly 4

3) (MINN) D.J. Geatz/Mikey Kantar 3 (DNF)

(WIS) Mark Weinig/Jeremy Sonkin 7

 

Singles

1) (MINN) #31 Avery Ticer 7 6

    (WIS) Alex Kasarov 6 (4) 1

2) (MINN) Adrien Debreyne 1 1

    (WIS) Jeremy Sonkin 6 6

3) (MINN) D.J. Geatz 6 6

    (WIS) Lachezar Kasarov 2 2

4) (MINN) Nic Edlefsen 7 3

    (WIS) Felipe Bellido 5 3

5) (MINN) Raoul Schwark 6 6

    (WIS) Brian Ko 4 1

6) (MINN) Brian Lipinski 1 6 1

    (WIS) Mark Weinig 6 4 2 (DNF)

Big Ten Men's Tennis

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