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Top-seeded Ohio State shuts down No. 8 Wisconsin, 4-0
April 28, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS - With several All-Conference honors and the 2006 regular season league title wrapped up, top-seeded Ohio State is still hoping to add one more accomplishment to the list before closing the door on this already historic season: a Big Ten Championship crown. The 10th-best team in the country opened its title pursuit with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over No. 8 seed Wisconsin at the Baseline Tennis Center. Chris Klingemann and Devin Mullings led the Buckeyes to an early advantage in doubles competition, defeating Elliot Bisnow and Brennen Phippen 8-4 in the No. 3 doubles match. The nation's top-ranked pair of Scott Green and Ross Wilson put an emphatic mark on the match with a doubles point-clinching 8-4 victory over Wisconsin's top tandem of Jeremy Sonkin and Nollan Polley. The duo improved to 22-1 overall with the win. With a 1-0 lead heading into singles play, the Buckeyes rolled with confidence. Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Bryan Koniecko showed why he was a unanimous selection for the honor, cruising to a 6-0 advantage in the first set against Sonkin in No. 1 singles. Sonkin regrouped in the second, pulling ahead 5-4 before the Buckeye rookie claimed the second set and the match 7-5. Dennis Mertens notched a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Phippen in No. 5 singles. The 103rd-ranked Steven Moneke followed with a match-clinching defeat of Felipe Bellido (6-3, 6-2) in No. 4 singles. The Buckeyes enter Saturday's semifinal match against fourth-seeded Michigan at 23-1 overall and 11-0 against Big Ten opponents. Results Doubles Ohio State (1) def. Wisconsin (8), 4-0
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