`Cats Complete Riveting Comeback over Crimson, 4-3

2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Results

Feb. 8, 2015


	#26 Northwestern 4, #30 Harvard 3 Combe Tennis Center • Evanston, Ill. Results

EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 26 Northwestern found itself in a competitive battle Sunday afternoon with its perennial Ivy League rival, No. 30 Harvard. Faced with a 3-1 deficit down the stretch, the `Cats rallied back with three straight singles wins to prevail 4-3.

Adding to Friday's win over Boise State, NU is now 5-4 on the season.

In doubles play, Mihir Kumar and Alp Horoz snatched a quick 6-1 win at No. 3. However, the Crimson achieved two 7-5 victories at No. 1 and No. 2 to capture the lead-off point.

Alex Steinroeder bested Kumar 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4 in singles to put Harvard up 2-0. Logan Staggs then defeated 86th-ranked Sebastian Beltrame 6-2, 7-6 to get the 'Cats on the board, his second victory over a ranked opponent this spring.

However, No. 57 Denis Nguyen beat Sam Shropshire 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 to put Harvard within one of the victory.

Yet NU's comeback was brewing. Fedor Baev claimed a 7-5, 6-3 win over Brian Yeung at No. 5 to give the `Cats their second point.

At No. 2, 108th-ranked Strong Kirchheimer bounced back from a second set loss to take a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win over Nicky Hu. The score tied 3-3.

It all came down to Horoz at No. 6. After he narrowly clinched the first frame in a tiebreaker, the second set against Kenny Tao was equally close. However, Horoz got the crucial break and pulled away with a 7-6 (7), 7-5 triumph to seal the Wildcat win.

Northwestern returns to action tonight against Valparaiso. The evening home match begins at 6 p.m.

#26 Northwestern 4, #30 Harvard 3
Doubles Results
1. #7 Denis Nguyen/Brian Yeung (HAR) def. Fedor Baev/Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 7-5
2. Sebastian Beltrame/Nicky Hu (HAR) def. Alex Pasareanu/Sam Shropshire (NU) 7-5
3. Mihir Kumar/Alp Horoz (NU) def. Alex Steinroeder/Grant Solomon (HAR) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*

Singles Results
1. #57 Denis Nguyen (HAR) def. Sam Shropshire (NU) 7-5, 6-1
2. #108 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) def. Nicky Hu (HAR) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
3. Logan Staggs (NU) def. #86 Sebastian Beltrame (HAR) 6-2, 7-6
4. Alex Steinroeder (HAR) def. Mihir Kumar (NU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Fedor Baev (NU) def. Brian Yeung (HAR) 7-5, 6-3
6. Alp Horoz (NU) def. Kenny Tao (HAR) 7-6 (7), 7-5
Order of finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 6*

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