Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan Falls to No. 3 Ohio State in NCAA Second Round
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Stickney Tennis Center)
Event: NCAA Championship (Second Round)
Score: #3 Ohio State 4, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (14-15), OSU (33-1)
Next U-M Match: Season Completed
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 35-ranked University of Michigan men's tennis team saw its season come to an end with a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday (May 9) in the second round of the NCAA Championship at the Stickney Tennis Center. Despite putting forth a very competitive effort in singles play, the Wolverines were unable to rebound after dropping the doubles point and were denied a return trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. U-M finishes the season with an overall record of 14-15, including wins in eight of its final 11 matches.
Michigan surrendered the doubles point for just the second time in eight matches, giving Ohio State an early 1-0 lead. U-M's No. 53-ranked tandem of junior George Navas (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory School) and sophomore Jason Jung (Torrance, Calif./West Torrance HS) dropped an 8-3 decision to Matt Allare and Justin Kronauge at No. 1, while senior Peter Aarts (Pound Ridge, N.Y./Fox Lane HS) and junior Mike Sroczynski (Chatham, N.J./Laurel Springs School) fell short in an 8-6 loss to Bryan Koniecko and Shuhei Uzawa at No. 3.
The Buckeyes took a commanding 3-0 lead with straight-set victories at Nos. 3 and 6, but the Wolverines continued to fight and hung tough in all three matches remaining on the courts. Jung delivered perhaps the most impressive performance of his young career as he stunned third-ranked Koniecko by a dominating score of 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 to give the Maize and Blue its lone team point. Jung dealt Koniecko just his fifth loss in 40 overall matches in 2008-09.
Senior Andrew Mazlin (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) had a solid chance at sending his No. 2 match against eighth-ranked Steven Moneke to a third set. Mazlin had a break point at 4-3, but Moneke ended up holding serve before taking the final two games to clinch the team win for the Buckeyes.
Navas and sophomore Chris Madden (Lotus, Calif./Ponderosa HS) were leading in their respective matches when the outcome was decided. Madden was up a break in the third set of his No. 4 match against 113th-ranked Allare (6-4, 2-6, 1-0), while Navas took the first set against 74th-ranked Balazs Novak at No. 5 (6-3, 2-5).
Today's match marks the final career outing for Aarts, Mazlin and fellow senior Mike DePietro (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Lahser HS). Michigan returns six letterwinners and welcomes incoming freshmen Chris Cha (Eureka, Mo.) and Evan King (Chicago, Ill.) for the 2009-10 season.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #93 Jason Jung (U-M) d. #3 Bryan Koniecko, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 -- #9 Steven Moneke (OSU) d. Andrew Mazlin, 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 -- #25 Justin Kronauge (OSU) d. Mike Sroczynski, 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 -- Chris Madden (U-M) vs. #113 Matt Allare, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (unfinished)
No. 5 -- George Navas (U-M) vs. #74 Balazs Novak, 6-3, 2-5 (unfinished)
No. 6 -- Chase Buchanan (OSU) d. Drew Daniel, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -- Allare/Kronauge (OSU) d. #53 Jung/Navas, 8-3
No. 2 -- Madden/Mazlin (U-M) vs. Buchanan/Moneke, 5-7 (unfinished)
No. 3 -- Koniecko/Shuhei Uzawa (OSU) d. Peter Aarts/Sroczynski, 8-6
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-3, Singles 6-3-1-2
Players Mentioned
