Michigan State University
Wright State
Men's Tennis Splits Second Doubleheader of the Season
1/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 23, 2010
MSU vs. Cleveland State Final Stats
MSU vs. Wright State Final Stats
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's tennis team defeated Wright State, 6-1, after falling to Cleveland State, 4-3, on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, putting the Spartans at 3-2 on the season. Junior Clark Richardson (Leawood, Kan.) and freshman Denis Bogatov (Gurnee, Ill.) both went undefeated throughout the day in both singles and doubles action.
"It was a heartbreaking loss to Cleveland State," said head coach Gene Or lando. "We knew it would be tough and we were expecting to win but were unable to convert. We definitely had the chances but give them credit, they stepped up and we didn't."
Cleveland State took the lead early on by winning the doubles point. The Spartan pairing of Richardson and Bogatov earned a win for MSU at No. 3 doubles over Yannick Goosens and Chris Klepatz, 8-5.
MSU bounced back in singles action with wins from Bogatov, Richardson and junior John Stratton (Monroeville, N.J.). Bogatov fought through a three-set match, defeated Cleveland State's Ryan Hamning, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1. Stratton topped Rob Fox at the No. 4 spot, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1, and Richardson posted a win over Chris Klepatz at the No. 6 position, 6-3, 6-2.
Sophomore Ronnie Hulewicz (Tequesta, Fla.) forced Phil Orno of Cleveland State into a three-set match after winning the second set, but came up short in the third, falling, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, at the No. 1 spot.
MSU came back from the loss in the morning to win the doubles point against Wright State. Stratton and sophomore Austin Brooks (Houston, Texas) battled Nick Camilleri and Tore Waldhausen at the No. 1 spot to come out on top, 9-8(5). At No. 2 doubles, senior Joe Vallee (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) teamed with junior Jason Norville (Farmington Hills, Mich.) to top Jan Alafriz and Mekel Krussmagi, 8-5.
"It was hard to come right back to play the second match because the Cleveland State match lasted so long, and it was tough to shake off the loss but we played just good enough to win the doubles point," Orlando said. "We moved the lineup around a little and although it was a 6-1 win, it was a very close 6-1."
The momentum from the success in doubles carried into singles action as MSU won five of the six matches. Hulewicz outlasted Camilleri at the No. 1 spot to pick up a win for the Green and White, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. Brooks defeated Waldenhausen, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, at the No. 2 singles spot, while freshman Christian Roehmer (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) posted a win over Mekel Kruusmagi, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Bogatov and Richardson beat their Wright State opponents at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Bogatov dominated Alafriz, 6-1, 6-1, while Richardson topped Brian Dredge, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
MSU will host its third doubleheader of the month on Saturday, Jan. 30, when it faces Northern Illinois at 10 a.m. and Detroit at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
Players Mentioned
