Cardinals Split Day 1-1 in Doubleheader

Sunday, March 24

Louisville, Ky.

1 p.m.

University of Louisville

#23 NC State

Kosuke Nakanishi hits the ball against Florida State at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on March 1.

Photo by: Chris Carter | Louisville Athletics

March 24, 2024 | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Louisville beats Tennessee State to move to 13-8

By: Erin Hughes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville men's tennis split the day on Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 loss to NC State then a bounce-back 6-1 win over Tennessee State.

"I'm super disappointed with how we competed against NC State," said head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "It's tough for us to coach when there's a lack of effort from the team. I hope we can turn it around and get back on track."

Louisville 0, NC State 4
In the third-ever televised Louisville men's tennis game, the Cards lost 4-0 against #23 NC State.

The Cards started their singles matches down 1-0 after losing the doubles point.

The duo of Matthew Fung and Will Mayew finished first, fighting hard against the No. 36 ranked Wolfpack pairing in Martin Borisiouk and Joseph Wayand. Mayew and Fung unfortunately lost 6-2 after holding their own for the beginning of the set.

Enrique Peña and Miguel Avendaño finished second in a tough battle against Wolfpack duo Fons Van Sambeek and Braden Shick, tying it up at 5-5 but Peña and Avendaño fell short at 7-5.

In singles, the Cards battled on every court, but ultimately came up short. Avendaño faced off against Wayand on Court 6, but fell 6-4, 6-2. No. 91 Mayew looked to be in a tough battle with Van Sambeek on Court 3, but after two back and forth sets, Mayew lost 6-3, 6-3. The match finished after Andre' Steinbach lost to Staeheli 6-3, 6-3 on Court 4.

Louisville 6, Tennessee State 1
Louisville bounced back quickly following their loss to NC State by clinching the doubles point with victories from #9 pairing Donnet/Rodrigues and Fung/Mayew, who fought to win their set 7-5.

In singles, Kosuke Nakanishi claimed a point first for the Cards on Court 4, winning 6-1, 6-1. That point was followed by Avendaño winning 6-4, 6-2 on Court 6. No. 45 Donnet then won the match-clinching point for the Cards on Court 1, winning 6-1, 6-2.

Steinbach won on Court 2 6-3, 6-2. Peña and Mayew both went to third sets, on Courts 3 and 5, respectively. Peña won his match 7-5, 1-6, 10-7 while Mayew lost 6-1, 6-7 (4-6), 5-10.

The Cards will travel to Duke University to take on the Blue Devils on Friday, March 29, at 5 p.m. ET.

#23 NC State 4, #35 Louisville Men's Tennis 0
Singles competition
1. #45 Etienne Donnet (LOU) vs. #46 Robin Catry (NCS) 6-7 (5-7), 2-2, unfinished
2. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) vs. #67 Braden Shick (NCS) 1-6, 5-4, unfinished
3. #104 Luca Staeheli (NCS) def. Andre' Steinbach (LOU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Fons Van Sambeek (NCS) def. #91 Will Mayew (LOU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Enrique Pena (LOU) vs. Jakub Katuch (NCS) 2-6, 2-5, unfinished
6. Joseph Wayand (NCS) def. Miguel Avendano (LOU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #9 Etienne Donnet/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) vs. #78 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (NCS) 5-5, unfinished
2. #36 Martin Borisiouk/Joseph Wayand (NCS) def. Matthew Fung/Will Mayew (LOU) 6-2
3. Braden Shick/Fons Van Sambeek (NCS) def. Miguel Avendano/Enrique Pena (LOU) 7-5

Match Notes:
NC State 12-4; National ranking #23
Louisville Men's Tennis 12-8; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,4,3)
T-2:15 A-150

#35 Louisville Men's Tennis 6, Tennessee State University 1
Singles competition
1. #45 Etienne Donnet (LOU) def. Jonasz Dziopak (TSUMTN) 6-1, 6-2
2. Andre' Steinbach (LOU) def. Daniel Caraballo (TSUMTN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Taj Hibbert (TSUMTN) def. Will Mayew (LOU) 1-6, 7-6 (6-4), 10-5
4. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) def. Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSUMTN) 6-1, 6-1
5. Enrique Pena (LOU) def. Nil Moinet (TSUMTN) 7-5, 1-6, 10-7
6. Miguel Avendano (LOU) def. Rohan Loubser (TSUMTN) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #9 Etienne Donnet/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Diego Britt-Alvarez/Nil Moinet (TSUMTN) 6-3
2. Matthew Fung/Will Mayew (LOU) def. Daniel Caraballo/Jonasz Dziopak (TSUMTN) 7-5
3. Taj Hibbert/Rohan Loubser (TSUMTN) def. Russell Lokko/Enrique Pena (LOU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Tennessee State University 3-15
Louisville Men's Tennis 13-8; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,6,1,2,3,5)
T-2:35 A-75