April 30, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - For the second consecutive year Ohio State will be in the finals of the Big Ten Conference Men's Tennis Championship after the Buckeyes defeated Michigan 4-0 in the semifinals here at Illinois' Atkins Tennis Center on Saturday (April 30).
The win is Ohio State's second over Michigan this season with the first coming on April 10th in a 6-1 triumph. Head coach Ty Tucker's squad will look for their first Big Ten title since 2001 when they take on Illinois in the championship final on Sunday (May 1). Ohio State defeated Illinois in the 2001 finale to win its last title while the Fighting Illini took down the Buckeyes in 2004's final match, 4-1.
The Scarlet and Grey came out firing in the doubles matches Saturday. The Maize and Blue squad of Vinny Gosain and David Anvig only managed to win two games against Joey Atas and Drew Eberly at number three doubles. The OSU duo won 8-2. Scott Green and Ross Wilson secured the Buckeyes doubles point with their win over Matko Maravic and Brian Hung at number one doubles by an 8-6 count.
Recent Big Ten Conference Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week Devin Mullings led the way in singles action. The sophomore won his number one singles match over Maravic in dominating fashion - 6-0, 6-2.
Eberly notched his second win of the day to put Ohio State up 3-0 with his win at number five doubles. The freshman defeated Steven Peretz of Michigan by a 6-1, 7-6 (3) score. At number three singles Joey Atas clinched the match and the Buckeyes second straight finals appearance with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Josef Fischer.
Sunday's match between Ohio State and Illinois is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. central time at the Atkins Tennis Center on the U of I campus with the winner claiming the 2005 Big Ten title.
Ohio State 4, Michigan 0
Doubles
1) (OSU) #5 Scott Green/Ross Wilson 8
(MICH) Matko Maravic/Brian Hung 6
2) (OSU) Chris Klingemann/Devin Mullings 4 (DNF)
(MICH) Josef Fischer/Ryan Heller 5
3) (OSU) Joey Atas/Drew Eberly 8
(MICH) Vinny Gosain/David Anving 2
Order of finish: 3, 1
Singles
1) (OSU) #57 Devin Mullings 6 6
(MICH) #79 Matko Maravic 0 2
2) (OSU) Chris Klingemann 1 6 3 (DNF)
(MICH) Brian Hung 6 2 1 (DNF)
3) (OSU) #59 Joey Atas 6 6
(MICH) Josef Fischer 3 4
4) (OSU) Ross Wilson 4 7 1 (DNF)
(MICH) Ryan Heller 6 5 2 (DNF)
5) (OSU) Drew Eberly 6 7
(MICH) Steven Peretz 1 6 (3)
6) (OSU) Dennis Mertens 6 5 (DNF)
(MICH) David Anving 2 4 (DNF)
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3
