Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan Falls to Minnesota, Suffers First Big Ten Loss
4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 29 University of Michigan men's tennis team suffered its first Big Ten Conference loss of the 2006 season, falling to No. 52 Minnesota by a score of 5-2 Saturday afternoon (April 1) at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Wolverines (9-7, 3-1 Big Ten) dropped their first match in four tries after giving up a tightly contested doubles point and four of six in singles play. The Golden Gophers (8-9, 2-1 Big Ten) have now won nine straight matches over U-M dating back to the 2000 season.
Michigan's No. 8-ranked doubles tandem of junior Brian Hung (Hong Kong, China/Sagemont Virtual School) and sophomore Matko Maravic (Zagreb, Croatia/V. Gimnazija) captured its team-leading 12th dual match victory at No. 1, defeating Adrien Debreyne and Raoul Schwark by an 8-6 margin to give the Wolverines the early momentum. Hung and Maravic, who broke serve to earn the final game, have won 19 of their last 24 matches dating back to the fall season. They hold a three-match winning streak and stand at 19-7 overall and 12-4 in dual match action.
D.J. Geatz and Nic Edlefsen captured the final three games en route to an 8-5 victory over junior Steve Peretz (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Dwight School) and freshman Peter Aarts (Pound Ridge, N.Y/Fox Lane HS) at No. 3 to even the doubles competition. Peretz and Aarts remain winless in dual match play (0-4) and have lost seven straight matches dating back to the fall.
Junior Ryan Heller (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) and freshman Andrew Mazlin (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) were on serve with Andres Osorio and Sion Wilkins the entire match at No. 2. The Gopher duo, however, took control in the tiebreaker, winning 7-1 to clinch the match and the doubles point for Minnesota. It was just Heller and Mazlin's third loss in seven tiebreakers this season.
The Gophers took a 2-0 lead in the match thanks to Debreyne's 6-1, 6-4 win over Mazlin at No. 4 singles. It was Mazlin's first loss in four matches and first defeat in Big Ten play. Aarts answered with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Mikey Kantar at No. 6 to give Michigan its first team point. Aarts has won three straight matches and improves his conference record to 3-1.
Straight-set victories at Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, wrapped up the team win for Minnesota. Hung dropped his second straight match, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Osorio at No. 2, while Peretz was upended by Schwark at No. 5, 6-3, 6-2, for his first loss in league play.
With the outcome decided, Heller completed his solid comeback victory over the No. 114-ranked Edlefsen at No. 3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, to become the last Wolverine with a perfect record in Big Ten play at 4-0. The No. 60-ranked Geatz handed No. 47th-ranked Maravic his first loss in four matches at No. 1, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0(8), to cap off the Gophers' upset victory.
The Wolverines return to the Varsity Tennis Center tomorrow (Sunday, April 2) to host Iowa at noon.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #60 D.J. Geatz (MINN) d. #47 Matko Maravic, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0(8)
No. 2 -- Andres Osorio (MINN) d. Brian Hung, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 -- Ryan Heller (U-M) d. #114 Nic Edlefsen, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 -- Adrien Debreyne (MINN) d. Andrew Mazlin, 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 -- Raoul Schwark (MINN) d. Steve Peretz, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 -- Peter Aarts (U-M) d. Mikey Kantar, 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -- #8 Hung/Maravic (U-M) d. Debreyne/Schwark, 8-6
No. 2 -- Osorio/Sion Wilkins (MINN) D. Heller/Mazlin, 9-8(1)
No. 3 -- Edlefsen/Geatz (MINN) d. Aarts/Peretz, 8-5
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-3-2, Singles 4-6-2-5-3-1
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
