Michigan State University
Wisconsin
Spartans Win First Big Ten Match Of The Season
3/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 23, 2002
MADISON, Wis. - All of the close matches went Michigan State's way Friday, March 22 as the No. 71 men's tennis team pulled out a 5-2 upset over No. 49 Wisconsin. With the win, State moves to 12-5 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Ten.
The Spartans opened the match by taking the doubles point over the Badgers (7-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten). Junior co-captains Adam Hourani (Lansing, Mich.) and Jimmy McGuire (Columbus, Ohio) teamed up for the first time this season in dual matches and defeated Wisconsin's Scott Green and Scott Rutherford at No. 1, 9-7. Junior Goran Topalo (Prague, Czech Rep.) and sophomore Mike Jonckheere (London, Ont.) continued to roll at No. 3 by winning their fourth match at the position, 8-5, thus securing the first point of the day for MSU.
State quickly picked up its second point when McGuire defeated Green at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-0. Freshman Cameron Marshall (Louisville, Ky.) then held on for his 21st victory of the season, defeating Wisconsin's Justin Baker at No. 6, 6-4, 6-4. But the Spartans would have to work for the clinching point. Spartan sophomore Chris Mitchell (Ann Arbor, Mich.) fell to No. 24 Danny Westerman, at No. 1, 6-4, 6-1, and sophomore Eric Simonton (Annandale, N.J.) dropped a heartbreaker at No. 5, losing to Alex Kasarov, 7-5, 7-6(4).
With only two singles matches remaining, Topalo provided the victory that MSU was searching for at No. 3. Taking the first set 7-5, he fought off David Hippee in a second set tiebreaker and won 7-5, 7-6(4), clinching State's 12th win overall and its first in the Big Ten. With the match secured, freshman Andrew Formanczyk (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Rutherford played a 10-point tiebreaker for their third set at No. 2. After splitting tiebreakers in the first and second set, Formanczyk won 10-8 in the third, allowing MSU to defeat the Badgers, 5-2.
Michigan State returns to East Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, March 27 when it plays host Western Michigan at 6 p.m. at the Indoor Tennis Facility. It marks the last non-conference match of the season for the Spartans.
Friday's Results Against No. 49 WisconsinDoublesNo. 1 Hourani/McGuire (MSU) def. Green/Rutherford (UW) 9-7No. 2 Baker/Westerman (UW) def. Formanczyk/Mitchell (MSU) 8-0No. 3 Jonckheere/Topalo (MSU) def. Gonzaga/Hippee (UW) 8-5
SinglesNo. 1 No. 24 Danny Westerman (UW) def. Chris Mitchell (MSU) 6-4, 6-1No. 2 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) def. Scott Rutherford (UW) 6-7, 7-6, 1-0(10-8)No. 3 Goran Topalo (MSU) def. David Hippee (UW) 7-5, 7-6(4)No. 4 Jimmy McGuire (MSU) def. Scott Green (UW) 6-2, 6-0No. 5 Alex Kasarov (UW) def. Eric Simonton (MSU) 7-5, 7-6(4)No. 6 Cameron Marshall (MSU) def. Justin Baker (UW) 6-4, 6-4No. 71 Michigan State defeats No. 49 Wisconsin, 5-2
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)