Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wildcats Fall To Minnesota, 6-1
4/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 12, 2008
Results
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern gave a good push down the stretch, but was unable to clinch some crucial matches and fell 6-1 against Minnesota. The 'Cats will continue their search for a Big Ten victory Sunday afternoon when they host Iowa.
The Wildcats (7-14, 0-8) trailed 1-0 after losing a heartbreaking doubles point. At No. 2, Peter Rispoli (Naples, Fla./St. Stephens (Texas)) and David Seyferth (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) were defeated 8-4, putting the pressure on the two remaining courts to come away with a win.
At No. 3, Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) and Alexander Thams (Stockholm, Sweden/Enskilda Gymnasiet) fought their way to a 9-7 victory, giving the 'Cats a chance at taking the doubles point. In a match that went back-and-forth until the end, Marc Dwyer (Peachtree City, Ga./Independent Study H.S.) and Alex Sanborn (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) fell in a close tiebreaker, 9-8, securing the doubles point for Minnesota.
The Wildcats fell behind 2-0 after Rispoli dropped straight sets at No. 3, 6-1, 6-2. After a hard battle from both ends, Alexander Thams was unable to carry-over his success from doubles to No. 3 singles, and dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision, giving the Gophers a 3-0 advantage for the day.
Northwestern began its push toward a victory when Andrew McCarthy won in straight sets at No. 6, 6-4, 6-4. The freshman McCarthy put on an impressive performance in earning the first singles dual match victory of his career.
With the Wildcats trailing 3-1, Minnesota was able to clinch the match after Dwyer fell at No. 1, 7-6, 6-2. After trailing early in the first set, Dwyer fought back to force a tiebreaker in which he barely lost. With that first set victory by Minnesota, the momentum clearly shifted in its favor and enabled them to clinch the match victory.
In his second-to-last home match, senior Juan Gomez (Mexico City, Mexico/South Florida) had hoped for a better outcome at No. 5, but unfortunately could not get the best of his opponent and lost, 6-4, 7-5.
The match of the day was at No. 2, where sophomore captain Alex Sanborn put up a fight, before falling in three sets. After taking the first set 6-4, Sanborn seemed well on his way to a victory. He dropped the second set 6-3, forcing a third set that would be played out in full. After some very close competition that never strayed, his opponent from Iowa prevailed in taking the third set, 6-4.
With the defeat, Northwestern is forced continue its search for a conference victory as the Big Ten Championship nears.
The Wildcats return to action at 11 a.m. Sunday, as they host Iowa at the Combe Tennis Center. Northwestern will close out its dual regular season next weekend when it travels to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19.
Singles competition
1. Raoul Schwark (MINN) def. Marc Dwyer (NU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
2. Tobias Wernet (MINN) def. Alex Sanborn (NU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Dino Bilankov (MINN) def. Alexander Thams (NU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Sebastian Gallego (MINN) def. Peter Rispoli (NU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Chi-Lang Pham (MINN) def. Juan Gomez (NU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Andrew McCarthy (NU) def. Pierre Dumas (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Dino Bilankov/Sebastian Gallego (MINN) def. Marc Dwyer/Alex Sanborn (NU) 9-8 (8-6)
2. Tobias Wernet/Chi-Lang Pham (MINN) def. Peter Rispoli/David Seyferth (NU) 8-4
3. Andrew McCarthy/Alexander Thams (NU) def. Raoul Schwark/Derek Peterson (MINN) 9-7
Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,6,1,5,2)
