University of Louisville
St. John's
Men's Tennis Advances to BIG EAST Semifinals
April 18, 2008 | Men's Tennis
April 18, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. - - The second-seeded University of Louisville men's tennis team defeated seventh-seeded St. John's 4-1 in the first round of the BIG EAST Men's Tennis Championship Friday at the Andros Courts on the campus of South Florida. The Cardinals (17-6) will face third-seeded host 3 USF in the semifinal Saturday at noon.
"We had a rough start losing the doubles point," U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "With quick and decisive victories from David Simon, Alejandro Calligari and Austen Childs, we turned match to our favor quickly. I'm proud that the players didn't let the disappointment of losing doubles point affect their focus in singles. With three close matches going on simultaneously and the tournament atmosphere getting more intense, Viktor Maksimcuk played a great match and sealed our fourth and decisive point. We're playing better outdoors and we will need a supreme effort tomorrow as we take on USF on their home courts. "
The Red Storm won at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles to secure the doubles point and start the match with a 1-0 lead. The tandem of Martin Kosut and Alex Svetlakov defeated Louisville's Austen Childs and James McArthur 8-6 at No. 2, while Derek Wallensteen and Pavel Cerny teamed to beat Simon Childs and Kenneth Nordheim 8-4 at No. 3. The top-seed match up between Louisville's David Simon and Viktor Maksimcuk and St. John's Arten Vlasenko and Gustafo Loza was suspended at 8-8.
The Cards regrouped to win at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 singles in straight sets. Austen Childs, No. 43 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking, defeated Vlasenko 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1. David Simon picked up a 6-4, 6-0 win over Svetlakov at the two-spot. Maksimcuk edged Loza 6-4, 7-6 at No. 3 and Alejandro Caligari posted his tenth-straight win with a 6-2, 6-0 decision against Cerny at the five-seed. With the match secured, play was suspended at all other singles positions.
"I'm happy that we've made our 12th straight conference tournament semifinals," said Ecarma. "Obviously we are not satisfied with just that, but I do want to acknowledge the current and past players who have appreciated the importance of the conference tournament."
#2 seed Louisville, 4 - #7 seed St. John's, 1
Doubles
1 - Simon/Maksimcuk (UofL) vs. Vlasenko/Loza (STJ), 8-8 (0-4) DNF
2 - Kosut/Svetlakov (STJ) def. A. Childs/ James McArthur (UofL), 8-6
3 - Wallensteen/Cerny (STJ) def. S. Childs/ Kenneth Nordheim (UofL), 8-4
Singles
1 - Austen Childs (UofL) def. Artem Vlasenko (STJ), 6-0, 6-3
2 - David Simon (UofL) def. Alex Svetlakov (STJ), 6-4, 6-0
3 - Viktor Maksimcuk (UofL) def. Gustafo Loza (STJ), 6-4, 7-6
4 - Simon Childs (UofL) vs. Martin Kosut (STJ), 5-7, 6-1, 4-3 DNF
5 - Alejandro Calligari (UofL) def. Pavel Cerny (STJ), 6-2, 6-0
6 - Robert Rotaru (UofL) vs. Asaf Honig (STJ), 7-6, 5-4 DNF
Players Mentioned
