Cards Defeat Xavier and Bellarmine to Open 2024 Season

Wednesday, January 17

Louisville, Ky.

12 p.m.

University of Louisville

Xavier

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Cards Defeat Xavier and Bellarmine to Open 2024 Season

January 17, 2024 | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Will Mayew Postmatch Interview Photo Gallery

Cards beat Xavier and Bellarmine 6-1 in their season opening doubleheader

By: Lori Harmon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team defeated Xavier and Bellarmine, both by scores of 6-1 in the Cardinals' season-opening doubleheader Wednesday at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

On the day, sophomores Will Mayew and Andre' Steinbach tallied a pair of singles victories and four freshman registered wins in the dual match debuts to help Louisville improve to 2-0 on the season.

"It's great to start the season with two wins," said Rodrigo da Silva. "I'm really proud of the guys and how they competed, especially the freshmen who were playing in their first matches today. Hopefully we can build on today and continue the momentum into our upcoming matches."

After a pair of home wins to start the season, the Cards will hit the road for four straight matches starting with a trip to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern on Sunday.

Louisville 6 – Xavier 1
In their season opener, the Cardinals took the doubles point to start the match with wins on courts one and three. Senior Etienne Donnet and junior Natan Rodrigues defeated Ryan Cahill and Pascal Mosberger 6-2 to give Louisville an early edge. Freshmen Piet Steveker and Miguel Aveñdano teamed to beat Charlie Temming and Alex Adamec 6-3 in their dual match debut to put the Cards on top 1-0.

Louisville extended its lead Kosuke Nakanishi registered his first collegiate singles point with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Totorica at No. 5. Will Mayew, No. 56 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, topped Temming 6-3, 6-1 at the three-spot. Aveñdano notched his first career singles point with a 6-0, 6-3 decision against Christian Gonzalez to clinch the win on court six.

At the No. 1 spot, Rodrigues bested Cahill 6-1, 6-2, extending Louisville's lead to 5-0. Andre' Steinbach followed with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Pascal Mosberger 6-3, 7-5.

On court four, Xavier's Marco Pennelli edged Enrique Pena 7-5 in the first set, but the Louisville freshman rebounded to take the second 6-3 to force a third set tiebreaker which saw Pennelli prevail 10-8.

Louisville 6 – Bellarmine 1
For the second time in Wednesday's doubleheader, the Cardinals grabbed the doubles point to take an early lead. Donnet and freshman Kosuke Nakanishi paired for a 6-2 win over Kyle Tang and Vineet Ramesh at No. 3 to give the Cards an advantage. Steinbach and Aveñdano clinched the point when they beat Xavier Ecarma and Eli Wood at the two-spot.

In singles action, the Cardinals added to their lead on court three when Steveker recorded his first collegiate dual match win with a 6-2, 6-3 decision against Ecarma. Mayew brought the score to 2-0 when beat Matthew Nice 6-1, 6-3 at the two-spot. Enrique Peña followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Wood at No. 5 to clinch the match with his first collegiate singles victory.

On court three, Steinbach picked up a 6-1 win in the first set and fell behind 5-2 in the second set before battling back to a 7-5 win over Kyle Tang. No. 16-ranked Donnet extended the Cardinals' lead to 6-0 when he beat Jack Batchelor 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 1 spot. The last singles point of the match was contested on court four where Ramesh took the first set 6-4 and Nakanishi won the second 6-2 and Ramesh prevailed 13-11 in the third set tiebreaker.

Tennis Match Results
Louisville Men's Tennis 6, Xavier 1
Jan 17, 2024 at Louisville, Ky. | (Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles
1. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Ryan Cahill (XU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Andre' Steinbach (LOU) def. Pascal Mosberger (XU) 6-3, 7-5
3. #56 Will Mayew (LOU) def. Charlie Temming (XU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Marco Pennelli (XU) def. Enrique Pena (LOU-MT) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
5. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) def. Kyle Totorica (XU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Miguel Avendano (LOU) def. Cristian Gonzalez (XU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles
1. Natan Rodrigues/Eitenne Donnet (LOU) def. Ryan Cahill/Pascal Mosberger (XU) 6-2
2. Will Mayew/Enrique Peña (LOU) vs. Kyle Totorica/Cristian Gonzalez (XU) 5-3, unfinished
3. Piet Steveker/Miguel Aveñdano (LOU) def. Charlie Temming/Alex Adamec (XU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Xavier 0-2
Louisville Men's Tennis 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,3,6,1,2,4)
T-2:30 A-85

Louisville 6, Bellarmine 1
1/17/2024 at Louisville, Ky | (Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #16 Eitenne Donnet (LOU) def. Jack Batchelor (BELL) 6-2, 7-5
2. #56 Will Mayew (LOU) def. Matthew Nice (BELL) 6-1, 6-3
3. Andre' Steinbach (LOU) def. Kyle Tang (BELL) 6-1, 7-5
4. Vineet Ramesh (BELL) def. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (13-11)
5. Enrique Peña (LOU) def. Eli Wood (BELL) 6-3, 6-3
6. Piet Steveker (LOU) def. Xavier Ecarma (BELL) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Natan Rodrigues/Will Mayew (LOU) vs. Matthew Nice/Jack Batchelor (BELL) 4-4, unfinished
2. Andre' Steinbach/Miguel Aveñdano (LOU) def. Xavier Ecarma/Eli Wood (BELL) 6-3
3. Eitenne Donnet/Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) def. Vineet Ramesh/Kyle Tang (BELL) 6-2

Match Notes:
Bellarmine 0-1
Louisville Men's Tennis 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,2,5,3,1)
T-2:40 A-115