Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan Edges Michigan State at Varsity Tennis Center
3/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 48 University of Michigan men's tennis team notched its first Big Ten Conference victory of the season, battling to a 4-3 decision against No. 52 Michigan State on Wednesday (March 31) at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines (9-4, 1-2 Big Ten) claimed three singles victories and a pair of doubles contests to earn Michigan another half-point in the Pontiac Challenge Cup rivalry and the full sweep of tennis competitions.
| | Anving clinched the 4-3 win with his comeback victory at the No. 6 singles position. |
Also collecting singles wins for Michigan were senior Anthony Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet HS) and freshman Steve Peretz (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Dwight School), who both recorded dominant straight-set victories at the No. 2 and No. 5 spots, respectively. Jackson posted a 6-3, 6-2 win over the Spartans' Cameron Marshall, while Peretz defeated Joseph McWilliams 6-0, 6-4 to improve his dual-meet record to an impressive 10-2.
In the most tightly contested match of the dual meet, No. 49-ranked junior Michael Rubin (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) of Michigan dropped a close decision to No. 100 Andrew Formanczyk in a third-set tiebreaker. After splitting the first two sets, the competitors matched each other blow for blow in the deciding frame with each player holding serve through 12 games. The tiebreaker proved just as close, with neither player winning more than two consecutive points. Formanczyk, however, gained the first lead and with the match on the line sent a forehand down the line to earn the 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory.
After splitting doubles matches at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, junior Vinny Gossain (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS) and Peretz clinched the doubles point with a 8-4 victory over MSU's Mike Brown and Anthony Stefani. With Gossain serving for the win, the Michigan tandem won three consecutive points to give themselves a 40-love edge and three attempts to put away the match. After giving up a point to the Spartans, Gossain charged the net from his serve and played a volley shot deep into the gap to give Michigan the early lead in the dual meet.
The Wolverines will continue their Big Ten dual schedule this weekend when they host Minnesota on Saturday (April 3) and Iowa on Sunday (April 4). Both matches slated for noon starts at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #100 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) d. #49 Michael Rubin, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5)
No. 2 -- Anthony Jackson (U-M) d. Cameron Marshall, 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 -- Chris Mitchell (MSU) d. Brian Hung, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
No. 4 -- Eric Simonton (MSU) d. Ryan Heller, 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 -- Steve Peretz (U-M) d. Joseph McWilliams, 6-0, 6-4
No. 6 -- David Anving (U-M) d. Mike Brown, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -- Formanczyk/Mitchell (MSU) d. Jackson/Hung, 8-6
No. 2 -- Heller/M. Rubin (U-M) d. Marshall/Simonton, 8-6
No. 3 -- Vinny Gossain/Peretz (U-M) d. Brown/Anthony Stefani, 8-4
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-2-3, Singles 5-2-4-3-6-1
N O T E S
U-M has won the doubles point against eight of its 13 opponents this season.
Michigan improves to 86-18 all-time against the Spartans. U-M has never lost to Michigan State at the Varsity Tennis Center (4-0).
With his win with Steve Peretz at No. 3, Vinny Gossain reached his 25th career doubles win at Michigan. In three seasons, Gossain has collected an overall doubles record of 25-29, including a 16-19 dual match mark.
With his victory with Ryan Heller at No. 2, Michael Rubin earned his 30th career doubles victory. In three seasons, Rubin has compiled an overall record of 30-36, including a 16-24 mark in dual match action.
Michigan is 3-4 against nationally ranked opponents this season.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
