Michigan Defeats Iowa for Fourth Straight Road Win

Sunday, April 1

Iowa City, Iowa

10:00 AM CT

Michigan

Iowa

4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan men's tennis team pushed its winning streak to five matches with a resounding 6-1 triumph over Iowa Sunday afternoon (April 1) at the UI Recreation Building. The Wolverines (14-4, 5-1 Big Ten) posted their fourth straight doubles sweep before earning victories at the top five singles positions, allowing U-M to walk away with its fourth straight road win and remain near the top of the Big Ten Conference standings.

Competing together for just the second time in their careers, senior Brian Hung (Hong Kong, China/Sagemont Virtual School) and sophomore Peter Aarts (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane HS) outlasted Patrick Dwyer and J.P. Ritchie at No. 2 to get Michigan off to a solid start in doubles. The Wolverines have given up just two of 17 matches completed at the second position this season.

Freshmen George Navas (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory School) and Mike Sroczynski (Chatham, N.J./Laurel Springs School) secured their fourth straight victory at No. 3, defeating Christian Bierich and Reinoud Haal by an 8-5 margin to clinch U-M's 15th doubles point of 2007.  Navas and Sroczynski stand at 14-4 overall, including a 12-4 mark in dual match play.

Senior Ryan Heller (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) and sophomore Andrew Mazlin (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) moved up to the No. 1 position and produced the same winning result they have grown accustomed to, bettering Walker Grimes and Gregory Holm by a score of 8-5 to seal Michigan's 11th doubles sweep of the season. Heller and Mazlin have won seven straight matches; the pair holds a 16-3 overall mark and a 14-2 mark in dual match action.

The Wolverines found themselves tied with the Hawkeyes after Dwyer handed Aarts a 6-4, 6-2 defeat at No. 6 to begin singles play. Michigan pulled ahead for good thanks to Navas, who posted a 6-3, 6-2 win over Holm at No. 5. Heller's 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Bierich at No. 2 -- his 12th victory in 16 dual matches this season -- put the Maize and Blue in front 3-1.

Mazlin provided the clincher for the Wolverines, defeating Haal by a score of 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 to secure his team-leading 13th dual match win (13-6). The 61st-ranked Hung moved the lead to 5-1 with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Ritchie at the top spot. Hung holds a team-best five-match winning streak, and today's win evened his season record at No. 1 to 4-4. Sroczynski rounded out the scoring, claiming a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Tommy McGeorge at No. 4 to improve his dual match record to 9-2. Sroczynski has won four straight and stands at 12-3 overall in 2006-07.

The Wolverines return home to the Varsity Tennis Center to host Illinois and Purdue next weekend. Michigan will face the Fighting Illini on Friday (April 6) at 6 p.m., and finish the weekend against the Boilermakers on Sunday (April 8) at noon.

Following are match-by-match results:

Singles
No. 1 -- #61 Brian Hung (U-M) d. J.P. Ritchie, 6-4, 6-4 
No. 2 -- Ryan Heller (U-M) d. Christian Bierich, 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 -- Andrew Mazlin (U-M) d. Reinoud Haal, 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 -- Mike Sroczynski (U-M) d. Tommy McGeorge, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
No. 5 -- George Navas (U-M) d. Gregory Holm, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 -- Patrick Dwyer (Iowa) d. Peter Aarts, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 -- #35 Heller/Mazlin (U-M) d. Walker Grimes/Holm, 8-5
No. 2 -- Aarts/Hung (U-M) d. Dwyer/Ritchie, 8-6
No. 3 -- Navas/Sroczynski (U-M) d. Bierich/Haal, 8-5

Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3-1, Singles 6-5-2-3-1-4

Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423