Men's Tennis Defeats Valparaiso 4-3

Friday, February 12

LOUISVILLE, KY.

6 PM

University of Louisville

Valparaiso

February 12, 2016 | Men's Tennis

Cards win second match of Friday doubleheader

By: Taylor Sherrill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team secured the doubles point and held off Valparaiso for a 4-3 victory on Friday evening at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. The win capped a doubleheader sweep for the Cards who had beaten Butler 6-1 earlier in the day.

"I knew Valpo was going to be a very difficult team to play," said head coach Rex Ecarma. "Not only are they getting really good quality wins, but the style they play is difficult to play against. If you watch them play, they don't spend a lot of time in the baseline like our team does. They hit a couple balls and charge straight to the net. It's kind of like you are a football team and they are running offensive plays every 15 seconds, it's hard for the defense to set and play ball. This team is attacking, attacking, attacking and your head is spinning."

The Cards (5-5) opened the match by taking the doubles point. Valpo (4-3) won at No. 1 when the No. 35 ranked duo of Jeffrey Schorsch and Charlie Emhardt defeated Alex Gornet and Jeffrey Brown 6-2. The Cards responded at the two-spot where the tandem of Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff and George Hedley beat 6-3 Dave Bacalla and Garrett Gardner. The Cards clinched the doubles point with the team of Courtney Lock and Sean Donohue knocking off Chad Kissell and Kyle Dunn 6-4 on court three.

In singles action, the Cards used straight set wins at No. 2 and No. 4 singles to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Morin-Kougoucheff defeated Bacalla 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2 while George Hedley won against Charlie Emhardt 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. The Crusaders picked up point at No. 5 when Garrett Gardner defeated Michael Quang 6-4, 6-4 to make the score 3-1. Brandon Lancaster clinched the win for the Cards when he beat Chad Kissell 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) at No. 3. The Crusaders added points with victories at the No. 1 and No. 6 spots. Jeffrey Schorsch held off Gornet 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) and Kyle Dunn outlasted Lock 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8).

The Cardinals will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 14 as they travel to East Lansing, Mich., to play Michigan State at 11 a.m.

#46 Louisville Men's Tennis 4, Valparaiso 3
Feb 16, 2016 at Louisville, Ky.
Singles
1. Jeffrey Schorsch (VALPO) def. Alex Gornet (LOU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
2. C. Morin-Kougoucheff (LOU) def. Dave Bacalla (VALPO) 6-3, 6-3
3. Brandon Lancaster (LOU) def. Chad Kissell (VALPO) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
4. George Hedley (LOU) def. Charlie Emhardt (VALPO) 7-6, (7-3), 6-3
5. Garrett Gardner (VALPO) def. Michael Quang (LOU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Kyle Dunn (VALPO) def. Courtney Lock (LOU) 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
Order of finish: 2,4,5,3,1,6
Doubles
1. #35 Jeffrey Schorsch/Charlie Emhardt (VALPO) def. Alex Gornet/Jeffrey Brown (LOU) 6-2
2. C. Morin-Kougoucheff/George Hedley (LOU) def. Dave Bacalla/Garrett Gardner (VALPO) 6-3
3. Courtney Lock/Sean Donohue (LOU) def. Chad Kissell/Kyle Dunn (VALPO) 6-4
Order of finish: 1,2,3

Match Notes:
Louisville Men's Tennis 5-5; National ranking #46
Valparaiso 4-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,5,3,1,6)
T-2:41 A-57