Men's Tennis Splits in Indiana on Saturday

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Michigan State men's tennis team split in nonconference tennis action on Saturday, January 26, defeating Ball State by a final score of 4-3 in match one of the day before coming up short against IUPUI in match two, 4-2.

Following the split, Michigan State's overall season record sits at 4-3 while Ball State fell to 0-2 and IUPUI improved to 3-1.

Michigan State rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Ball State in the early afternoon portion of their two-match slate on Saturday. The Spartans fell behind 3-0 as the Cardinals earned the point for doubles and won the first two singles matches to finish at No. 2 and No. 3.

Freshman Anthony Pero was the first to get MSU on the board, earning a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles over Bryce Bonin to improve to 5-1 on the season from the six hole.

Sophomore Jack Winkler bounced back after dropping his first set, 6-3, to defeat Nemanja Guzina, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 at No. 1 singles and brought the Spartans within one point of tying Ball State with two matches yet to finish. Winkler came back from down 4-1 in the third set to keep the Spartans alive and remained unbeaten in dual play at 5-0 from the top slot.

With Winkler bringing the score to 3-2 in favor of Ball State, that left freshmen Carson Gates and Nick Williams to complete the reverse sweep. Gates dropped a closely-contested first set, 7-6, but forced a third set with a 6-1 win in the second. Williams was a 7-6 winner in the first set, but fell in the second to Chris Adams, 6-4.

Facing a third set in each of their final two matches, the Spartans buckled down. Gates came away on top, 7-6, in a third set that needed eight tiebreakers. Williams completed the comeback and gave MSU the 4-3 win with a 6-3 third set victory at No. 5 singles.

The Spartans were unable to maintain momentum following the long trek to Indianapolis however as IUPUI came away with a 4-2 victory. Winning matches for Michigan State were senior Billy Shisler at No. 3 singles and Pero at No. 6 singles. In doubles play, Winkler and Williams teamed up for a 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.

With a win at No. 6 singles, Pero improved to 6-1 in singles play this season and is currently riding a four-match winning streak.

Michigan State returns to action on Saturday, February 2, two home matches. The Spartans will face Cornell at 12:00 p.m. ET from the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility prior to meeting Eastern Illinois at 4:00 p.m. ET in the same building.

RESULTS

Match One // Michigan State 4, Ball State 3
Singles
1. Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Nemanja Guzina (BSU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
2. Marko Guzina (BSU) def. John Carlin (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Danilo Kovacevic (BSU) def. Ivan Rakic (MSU) 6-4, 6-0
4. Carson Gates (MSU) def. Thibault De Negri (BSU) 6-7, 6-1, 7-6
5. Nick Williams (MSU) def. Chris Adams (BSU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-3
6. Anthony Pero (MSU) def. Bryce Bonin (BSU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles
1. Nemanja Guzina/Marko Guzina (BSU) vs. Jack Winkler/John Carlin (MSU) 4-5, unfinished
2. Danilo Kovacevic/Tom Carney (BSU) def. Ivan Rakic/Carson Gates (MSU) 6-1
3. Chris Adams/Conner Anderson (BSU) def. Billy Shisler/Nick Williams (MSU) 6-4

Match Two // IUPUI 4, Michigan State 2
Singles
1. Alex Jochim (IUPUI) def. Jack Winkler (MSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Sean Bailey (IUPUI) vs. John Carlin (MSU) 5-7, 6-4, 3-4, unfinished
3. Billy Shisler (MSU) def. Colton Morehart (IUPUI) 6-3, 7-5
4. Ethan Mardanus-Budio (IUPUI) def. Carson Gates (MSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
5. Eric Hollingsworth (IUPUI) def. Nick Williams (MSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Anthony Pero (MSU) def. Rodney Steven (IUPUI) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
1. Alex Jochim/Colton Morehart (IUPUI) def. Ivan Rakic/Billy Shisler (MSU) 6-3
2. Nick Williams/Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Grant Weaver/Kyle Whittaker (IUPUI) 6-2
3. Sean Bailey/Ethan Mardanus-Budio (IUPUI) def. Anthony Pero/John Carlin (MSU) 7-5

Next Event

Team Stats

Players Mentioned

John Carlin

Carson Gates

Anthony Pero

Ivan Rakic

Billy Shisler

Nick Williams

Jack Winkler