Michigan State University
Nebraska
Spartans Fall to Huskers in Big Ten Tournament
4/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
URBANA, Ill. - The Michigan State men's tennis team was narrowly defeated by Nebraska (11-13, 3-8) on Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, 4-3.
"It was a tough match, especially without JP (John Patrick Mullane)," head coach Gene Orlando said. "But the guys stepped up in his absence."
The Cornhuskers won the doubles point, as the pairs of Linus Erhart and Scott Elsass and Bradford Zitsch and Dusty Boyer won at No. 2 and No. 1 doubles, respectively.
MSU struck back in singles, winning three of the first four singles matches. Jasper Koenen finished first with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Chris Hobgarski at the No. 5 spot. Brett Forman added another point at No. 2 singles, defeating Erhart, 6-3, 6-2. Michael Dube added the third point for the Spartans, with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Zitsch at No. 6 singles.
"We started slow in doubles, but we made a great comeback in singles," Orlando said.
Nebraska was able to tie things up with wins at No. 4 and No. 3 singles. Andrew Dzulynsky won at No. 4 singles, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, and Marc Hermann won the No. 3 singles match, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
It all came down to the No. 1 singles match, with No. 111 Boyer matched up with Gijs Linders, both First-Team All-Big Ten selections.
The contest was tight the whole way, going to a third set. In the end, Boyer took the match, 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 7-5.
"The seniors have had a great career," Orlando said. "And Linders being named First-Team All-Big Ten is great."
Michigan State finishes the season with an overall record of 13-16, and 4-7 in the Big Ten.
Nebraska 4, Michigan State 3
April 23, 2015 at Urbana, Ill. (Atkins Tennis Center)
Singles Competition
1. No. 111 Dusty Boyer (NEB) def. Gijs Linders (MSU) 7-6 (7-5) 5-7, 7-5
2. Brett Forman (MSU) def. Linus Erhart (NEB) 6-3, 6-2
3. Marc Hermann (NEB) def. Harry Jadun (MSU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Andrew Dzulynsky (NEB) def. Mac Roy (MSU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
5. Jasper Koenen (MSU) def. Chris Hobgarski (NEB) 6-3, 6-2
6. Michael Dube (MSU) def. Bradford Zitsch (NEB) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Dusty Boyer/Bradford Zitsch (NEB) def. Harry Jadun/Jasper Koenen (MSU) 8-3
2. Linus Erhart/Scott Elsass (NEB) def. Gijs Linders/Mac Roy (MSU) 8-1
3. Doug Zade/Brett Forman (MSU) vs. Marc Herrmann/Chris Hobgarski (NEB) 5-3
Players Mentioned
