Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Harvard
Northwestern Storms to NCAA Second Round
5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 8, 2015
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#28 Northwestern 4, #34 Harvard 3 Headington Family Tennis Center • Norman, Okla.
Results | Results
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Though lightning and tornado warnings raged, they were mere sideshows to the excitement of No. 28 Northwestern's first round NCAA match against No. 34 Harvard on Friday. The `Cats battled through six hours and several weather delays to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory and punch their ticket to the second round.
The Wildcats pounced first in doubles play as Sam Shropshire and Alex Pasareanu cruised by Nicky Hu and Brian Yeung 8-2 on court 1. However, the Crimson team of Denis Nguyen and Grant Solomon struck back at No. 3 with an 8-6 win over Alp Horoz and Mihir Kumar.
In the deciding match on court 2, Fedor Baev and Strong Kirchheimer went toe-to-toe with Sebastian Beltrame and Jean Thirouin. After fierce back and forth, however, the Harvard duo edged the `Cats 8-7 (7-5) victory to give the Crimson a 1-0 lead.
In singles competition, Hu beat Strong Kirchheimer 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 to put Harvard up 2-0. However, the `Cats responded by winning the next three matches.
Ziebaput the 'Cats on the board by besting Beltrame 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3, and Logan Staggs defeated Yeung 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 to tie the score 2-2.
Horoz kept the momentum alive at No. 6. After easing through the first set, the sophomore powered to a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) win over Solomon to give the `Cats a 3-2 lead. The achievement marked Horoz's tenth straight singles win.
On the top court, Harvard knotted the score again at three apiece. 48th-ranked Shropshire fought off three match points, but 34th-ranked Nguyen ultimately prevailed 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.
It all came down to Baev and Kenny Tao at No. 5. The match stalled for over 45 minutes due to a tornado threat, but competition on both sides remained tough. After capturing a second set win after losing the first, Baev then outlasted Tao to prevail 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) and lock the Northwestern win.
In the second round, Northwestern will play No. 1 Oklahoma tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Sooners defeated New Mexico State 4-0 after NU's marathon match.
Oklahoma is No. 1 in the nation and the tournament's overall first seed. Now 25-2 on the season, the Sooners boast four ranked singles players: No. 1 Axel Alvarez, No. 7 Andrew Harris, No. 44 Dane Webb, and No. 103 Alex Ghilea. Harris and Ghilea also make up the No. 57 doubles pair.
The `Cats last made it to the NCAA round of 32 in 2013, when they defeated Wake Forest 4-3 in the first round.
#28 Northwestern 4, #34 Harvard 3
Doubles Results
1. Sam Shropshire / Alex Pasareanu (NU) def. Nicky Hu / Brian Yeung (HAR) 8-2
2. Sebastian Beltrame / Jean Thirouin (HAR) def. Fedor Baev / Strong Kircheimer (NU) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Denis Nguyen / Grant Solomon (HAR) def. Alp Horoz / Mihir Kumar (NU) 8-6
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*
Singles Results
1. #34 Denis Nguyen (HAR) def. #48 Sam Shropshire (NU) 7-6 (9-7), 6-3
2. Nicky Hu (HAR) def. Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Konrad Zieba (NU) def. Sebastian Beltrame (HAR) 6-1, 6-3
4. Logan Staggs (NU) def. Brian Yeung (HAR) 6-3, 6-4
5. Fedor Baev (NU) def. Kenny Tao (HAR) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Alp Horoz (NU) def. Grant Solomon (HAR) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
Order of finish:2, 3, 4, 6, 1, 5*
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