Wolverines Give Up Just One Set in Sweeping Bulldogs

Sunday, January 25

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

Butler

1/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team cruised to its second consecutive sweep of the dual match season, defeating Butler 7-0 Sunday afternoon (Jan. 25) at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines (3-0) continued their stellar doubles play by winning all three matches. More impressively, U-M surrendered just one set in all six of its singles victories.

For the third consecutive match, the Wolverines gained the early 1-0 advantage by posting victories in all three doubles matches. Senior Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) and freshman Brian Hung (Hong Kong, China/Sagemont Virtual School) pounded Brandon and Kevin Gill 8-2 at the top spot, while junior Michael Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) and freshman Ryan Heller (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) clinched the point with an 8-5 defeat of Andy Bartish and James Low at No. 2. Playing in his first career doubles dual match, freshman Steve Peretz (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Dwight School) teamed with junior Vinny Gossain (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) for a gritty 9-7 win over Chris Peric and Adam Bordow at No. 3 to complete the sweep.

It was the freshman class which came up big once again, as Hung, Peretz and Heller won the first three singles matches to clinch the team victory for Michigan. Hung earned U-M's second point with an easy 6-1, 6-3 win over Low at No. 3, while Heller followed with an identical 6-1, 6-3 victory over Bartish at No. 4. Peretz's 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Mike Weaver at the fifth spot gave the Wolverines the overall win.

Jackson continued Michigan's domination in singles play, taking care of Brandon Gill 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 for the fifth point of the match. Sophomore Carey Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) kept things going with a comeback win over Evan West at No. 6. After losing the first set 6-2, Rubin battled back to even things with a 6-3 win in the second frame. In the super-tiebreaker, Rubin posted a 10-6 score to take the match. Carey's brother, Michael, completed the singles sweep with another straight-set win at No. 1. Rubin fought his way back from two games down in the first set to win 7-5, and clinched the match with a 6-3 victory in the second set.

The Wolverines return to the Varsity Tennis Center on Saturday (Jan. 31) for a noon match with No. 30 Wake Forest.

Following are match-by-match results:

Singles
No. 1 -- #34 Michael Rubin (U-M) d. Keven Gill, 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 -- Anthony Jackson (U-M) d. Brandon Gill, 6-1, 6-2 
No. 3 -- Brian Hung (U-M) d. James Low, 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 -- Ryan Heller (U-M) d. Andy Bartish, 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 -- Steve Peretz (U-M) d. Mike Weaver, 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 -- Carey Rubin (U-M) d. Evan West, 2-6, 6-3, 10-6

Doubles
No. 1 -- Hung/Jackson (U-M) d. K. Gill/B. Gill, 8-2
No. 2 -- Heller/M. Rubin (U-M) d. Low/Bartish, 8-5
No. 3 -- Vinny Gossain/Peretz (U-M) d. Chris Peric/Adam Bordow, 9-7

N O T E S

U-M has won seven consecutive dual matches at the Varsity Tennis Center dating back to last season. The Wolverines have won 31 of their last 39 matches at home dating back to the 2000-01 and have compiled an overall record of 55-16 at the facility.

The Wolverines have never lost to Butler in four all-time meetings.

Michigan has won the doubles point in all three of its dual matches this season.

Ryan Heller, Brian Hung and Steve Peretz all remain undefeated in their dual match singles career (3-0).

Brian Hung and Steve Peretz both picked up their 10th singles victory of 2003-04, while Michael Rubin earned his 15th.