Michigan
Brown
Rubin Clinches Michigan's Comeback Win Over Brown
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team concluded its season-opening homestand with a perfect 6-0 record by defeating No. 51-ranked Brown 4-3 Sunday afternoon (Feb. 22) at the Varsity Tennis Center. After surrendering the doubles point, the Wolverines rebounded to win four of six in singles action. Junior Michael Rubin's (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) come-from-behind victory at No. 1 singles capped off an exhilirating day of tennis, which saw the final three matches decided in the final set.
For the first time this season, the Wolverines were unable to take the opening doubles point from their opponent. Michigan seemed to have an early leg up, as Rubin and freshman Ryan Heller (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) overtook Zack Pasanen and Kris Goddard 8-4 at No. 2. However, Brown quickly evened things up with a win at No. 3, as Nick Goldberg and Ben Brier handed junior Vinny Gossain (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) and freshman Steve Peretz (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Dwight School) an 8-5 loss. In the deciding match at No. 1, the No. 12-ranked team of Jamie Cerretani and Adil Shamasdin withstood a valiant comeback effort from senior Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) and freshman Brian Hung (Hong Kong, China/Sagemont Virtual School) before prevailing 8-5 to clinch the doubles point for the Bears.
Peretz evened the match and remained undefeated on the season with an easy 6-1, 6-2 win over Pasanen at No. 5 singles. Goldberg then put Brown up by one point with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jackson at No. 2. Minutes later, junior David Anving (Tvaaker, Sweden/Varbergs Gymnasieskola) knotted the match once again with his third straight win, a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Eric Thomas at No. 6. Heller brought U-M within one point of clinching the match, battling his way to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Brier at No. 4.
In the most exciting match of the day, Rubin came back for a thrilling victory over No. 42-ranked Cerretani at No. 1. After dropping the first set 6-1, Rubin evened things up with a 6-3 win in the second frame. In the third and final set, Cerretani withstood three match points before Rubin finally prevailed 6-4 to clinch the team victory for the Maize and Blue.
With the outcome already decided, Shamasdin came back to defeat Hung 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 at No. 3.
The Wolverines will spend their spring break in Tallahassee, Fla., facing Florida State on Friday (Feb. 27) at 5 p.m. before a neutral-site meeting with Furman on Sunday (Feb. 29) at 11 a.m. Both matches will be played at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #34 Michael Rubin (U-M) d. #42 Jamie Cerretani, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 -- Nick Goldberg (BU) d. Anthony Jackson, 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 -- Adil Shamasdin (BU) d. Brian Hung, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
No. 4 -- Ryan Heller (U-M) d. Ben Brier, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
No. 5 -- Steve Peretz (U-M) d. Zack Pasanen, 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 -- David Anving (U-M) d. Eric Thomas, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -- #12 Cerretani/Shamasdin (BU) d. Jackson/Hung, 8-5
No. 2 -- Heller/M. Rubin (U-M) d. Pasanen/Kris Goddard, 8-4
No. 3 -- Goldberg/Brier (BU) d. Vinny Gossain/Peretz, 8-5
N O T E S
U-M dropped the doubles point for the first time in six matches this season.
The Wolverines have won 10 straight dual matches at the Varsity Tennis Center dating back to last season and 34 of their last 42 at home since the 2000-01 campaign. Michigan holds an overall record of 58-16 at the facility.
Michigan improves its all-time record against Brown to 2-0.
Ryan Heller and Steve Peretz remain undefeated in their dual match singles careers (6-0), while Brian Hung suffered the first dual match singles loss of his career (4-1).
With his win at No. 6, David Anving reached his 30th career singles victory at Michigan.
Michigan is 2-0 against nationally ranked opponents this season.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
