Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Impressive Despite Loss
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 3, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich - After competing on the road in all of its previous matches, Michigan State wanted to give its fans something to cheer about. Even though the Spartans ended up losing to #24 Notre Dame at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, MSU fans had plenty to cheer about. Michigan State came within a match-point of upsetting the Fighting Irish, losing by a team score of 4-3.
The six singles matches were split evenly between the two schools, each winning three. Victorious for MSU was Ken Kigongo (Bradenton, Fla.), Francisco Trinidad (Mexico City, Mexico) and Todd Kosta (Ann Arbor, Mich.). Notre Dame took the decisive doubles point, winning two out of the three matches. Trey Eubanks (Louisville, Ky.) and Chris Struck (Okemos, Mich.) won their match for MSU at No. 2 doubles.
The most highly anticipated match of the day did not disappoint. Kigongo and Trinidad teamed at No. 1 doubles to battle Ryan Sachire and Brian Patterson of Notre Dame. Sachire and Patterson ended up victorious pulling out a 9-8 (3) thriller, where they defended off one match point at 7-8.
The loss drops Michigan States team record to 2-4 for the season. Notre Dame, ranked 24th in the nation, raised its record to 9-4. The Spartans have a busy week ahead of them as they will see action three times. They travel to LSU, Tulane, and SW Louisiana on March 8, 10, and 12 respectively.
MICHIGAN STATE (2-4) 3, #24 NOTRE DAME (9-4) 4
Singles Results
#1 Ryan Sachire (ND) def. Trey Eubanks (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
#2 Brian Patterson (ND) def. Ivica Primorac (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
#3 Ken Kigongo (MSU) def. Matt Daly 7-5, 6-2
#4 Andrew Laflin (ND) def. Chris Struck 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
#5 Francisco Trinidad (MSU) def. Casey Smith 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)
#6 Todd Kosta (MSU) def. Andy Warford (ND) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles Results
#1 Sachire/Patterson (ND) def. Kigongo/Trinidad (MSU) 9-8 (3)
#2 Eubanks/Struck (MSU) def. Daly/Smith (ND) 8-5
#3 Warford/Miller (ND) def. Kosta/Mark Jacobson (MSU) 8-1
