University of Louisville
Indiana
Men's Tennis Edges Indiana 4-3
March 18, 2008 | Men's Tennis
March 18, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman Alejandro Calligari's win at No. 6 singles propelled the University of Louisville men's tennis team to a 4-3 win over host Indiana 4-3 Tuesday afternoon. The Cards improve to 13-3 on the season, while the Hoosiers drop to 10-4.
The dual match began with #38 Indiana seizing the doubles point by taking two of the three doubles contests over #39 Louisville. IU's Dara McLoughlin and Thomas Richter posted an 8-3 win over freshmen Alejandro Calligari and Simon Childs at No. 2 doubles. Phillip Eilers and Lachlan Ferguson then guaranteed the 1-0 IU team advantage with a 9-7 besting of freshman Viktor Maksimcuk and sophomore David Simon in the No. 1 doubles slot. Freshman Austen Childs and sophomore James McArthur defeated Peter Antons and Santiago Gruter 8-6 at No. 3.
The team score would later be evened up at 3-3. IU's Richter defeated No. 41 Austen Childs 7-6, 6-3 at the top seed. Louisville's David Simon topped Eilers 7-6, 6-3 at No. 2. McLoughlin picked up a 6-4, 7-6 win over Maksimcuk at the three-spot. Simon Childs notched his sixth straight win with a 6-3, 6-2 decision against Ferguson at No. 4. U of L junior Robert Rotaru beat Michael McCarty 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5.
The match came down to the No. 6 singles position which featured two freshmen. Louisville's Calligari outlasted Santiago Gruter in the first set 7-6 (11-9). Gruter responded with a 6-1 second set win. After being down 4-2 in the third set, Calligari rallied for a 7-5 win to clinch the match.
"Alejandro Calligari really grew a lot today as a player," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "When you're in a 3-3 situation in the match and you're the last one on the court and you pull through on the road - it's something a player will remember for a long time."
"We let the doubles point slip away, we were up 7-4 on two courts and then lost the point. But again we bounced back - like we did against Penn and Virginia Tech," said Ecarma. "Simon Childs is on fire - he hasn't dropped a set in a long time. This is a big win for us as far as the NCAA tournament goes. We were very fortunate to go on the road and get a win against a very good Indiana team. Hopefully we can take this momentum into Texas A&M, the toughest place in the country to play."
U of L will travel to No. 19 Texas A&M Thursday.
No. 39 Louisville 4 - No. 38 Indiana 3 Doubles:
No. 1- Phillip Eilers/Lachlan Ferguson (IU) def. Viktor Maksimcuk/David Simon (UL), 9-7
No. 2- Dara McLoughlin/Thomas Richter (IU) def. Alejandro Calligari/Simon Childs (UL), 8-3
No. 3- Austen Childs/James McArthur (UL) def. Peter Antons/Santiago Gruter (IU), 8-6
Singles:
No. 1- Thomas Richter (IU) def. #41 Austen Childs (UL), 7-6, 6-3
No. 2- David Simon (UL) def. Phillip Eilers (IU), 7-6, 6-3
No. 3- Dara McLoughlin (IU) def. Viktor Maksimcuk (UL), 6-4, 7-6
No. 4- Simon Childs (UL) def. Lachlan Ferguson (IU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 5- Robert Rotaru (UL) def. Michael McCarthy (IU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 6- Alejandro Calligari (UL) def. Santiago Gruter (IU), 7-6 (11-9), 1-6, 7-5
Players Mentioned
