University of Louisville
Wisconsin
Men's Tennis Downs Wisconsin 4-3
March 17, 2007 | Men's Tennis
March 17, 2007
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - - The University of Louisville men's tennis team edged No. 39 Wisconsin 4-3 Saturday in the Blue-Gray Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. The win snaps the Cards' five match losing streak.
"I'm really proud of our guys," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "We've run into a stretch where we've played an unbelievable schedule and really took some lumps. The guys didn't give up and really fought hard even after we lost the doubles point today. So our focus was giving 100 per cent and living in the present - giving it their best while playing hard - they took it to heart."
The Badgers took the doubles point to start the match. No. 22-ranked Nolan Polley and Moritz Baumann defeated Louisville's Robert Rotaru and David Simon 8-4 at No. 1, while Jeremy Sonkin and Lachezar Kasarov edged James McArthur and Slavko Radman 9-7 at the No. 2 position. Louisville's Damar Johnson and Chris Herrlinger outlasted Michael Dierberger 9-8 at No. 3.
The Cards won singles at Nos. 1, 3 and 5 with the deciding point of the match coming at No. 2 with Johnson and Polley battling in three sets. Johnson delivered the 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 win. Radman, No. 99 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, defeated Sonkin 6-2, 6-4 at the top seed. Rotaru rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Baumann at No. 3. Simon beat Dierberger 6-4, 6-4 at the five spot.
Wisconsin's Kasarov topped Kenneth Nordheim 6-0, 7-6 at No. 4 and Bellido beat McArthur 6-3, 6-1.
With the match tied at 3-3, the No. 2 position became the crucial point. Louisville's Johnson won the first set 7-6 with Polley picking up a 6-4 win in the second. Johnson prevailed 7-5 in the third set to clinch the point for the Cardinals.
"Slavko, Simon and Robert won quickly and the match came down to Damar Johnson and former Kentucky High School tennis champion Nolan Polley in very dramatic way," said Ecarma. "We're proud that Damar closed that one out."
Louisville (7-11) will head to Malibu, Calif., to face No. 20-ranked, defending national champion Pepperdine on March 31.
No. 50 Louisville 4 - No. 39 Wisconsin 3
Singles
1 - #99 Slavko Radman (UL) d. Jeremy Sonkin (UW) 6-2, 6-4
2 - Damar Johnson (UL) d. Nolan Polley (UW) 7-6, 4-6, 7-5
3 - Robert Rotaru (UL) d. Moritz Baumann (UW) 6-2, 6-0
4 - Lachezar Kasarov (UW) d. Kenneth Nordheim (UL) 6-0, 7-6
5 - David Simon (UL) d. Michael Dierberger (UW) 6-4, 6-4
6 - Felipe Bellido (UW) d. James McArthur (UL) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
1 - #23 Polley/Baumann (UW) d. Rotaru/Simon (UL) 8-4
2 - Sonkin/Kasarov (UW) d. McArthur/Radman (UL) 9-7
3 - Johnson/ Chris Herrlinger (UL) d. Dierberger/Michael Muskievicz (UW) 9-8
Players Mentioned
