Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Open MAC Play With A Bang
April 06, 2002 | Men's Tennis
April 6, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's tennis team opened the Mid-American Conference schedule on a successful note, recording a 7-0 win over Western Michigan University Saturday afternoon (April 6). The dual match was held at Keefe Courts on the BGSU campus.
The Falcons, despite playing without junior Nicolas Lopez-Acevedo, won at all six singles flights and two doubles levels against the Broncos. Lopez-Acevedo, a native of Puerto Rico, is representing his home country in Davis Cup play.
Western Michigan won the MAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
"That was, without a doubt, the best team effort we have had since I've been here," said sixth-year BGSU head coach Jay Harris. "We played without Nicolas, and the whole team responded to the challenge. To have everyone move up (a flight) and respond that well says a lot about the character of our team."
The Broncos' (11-11, 2-1 MAC) only win on the day came at the top singles flight, where Ravishankar Pathanjali and Ryan Maarschalk topped the BGSU duo of seniors Ed Kuresman and Vitek Wild, 8-4. But, the Falcons (14-9, 1-0 MAC) took the doubles point by winning at the other two flights.
At the middle level, sophomore Milos Jirout and freshman Ian Bliss recorded an 8-6 victory over Michael Findling and Daniel Grupp. BGSU sophomore Joel Carney and junior Geoff Hiscox teamed for a win at the third flight by an identical 8-6 score.
"The doubles point was very close," said Harris. "We played a little tentative, but just fought hard and gutted it out to get the point.
"Then, in singles, we came out and really took it to them."
As mentioned, the Falcons won at even singles flight, losing a total of only five games at the bottom three flights. In those matches, all three Falcon competitors -- Carney at the fourth flight, Bliss at the fifth and senior Mike Kossoff at the sixth -- won their opening sets by 6-0 scores.
Wild, the winningest player in school history, posted a straight-sets win over Pathanjali at the top flight, while both Hiscox and Jirout won in three sets at the second and third levels, respectively.
"Obviously, it was a good day," said Harris. "You have to be happy to beat the defending MAC champions, 7-0, and we will enjoy this win.
"But, we will have to get back to business, because we have Kentucky next week and a very good Northern Illinois team on the weekend. We are, however, very excited with today's win, and with the great team effort."
The win concluded a six-match homestand which saw the Falcons go 5-1 and win four matches (including the last three) by 7-0 scores. BGSU now hits the road for next week's two matches, taking on UK Wednesday (April 10). The Wildcats are ranked ninth in the nation. Then, the Falcons will return to MAC action with a Saturday (April 13) contest at NIU.
Bowling Green 7, Western Michigan 0
Keefe Courts - Bowling Green, Ohio
Singles 1 - Vitek Wild (BGSU) def. Ravishankar Pathanjali 6-2, 6-4 2 - Geoff Hiscox (BGSU) def. Ryan Maarschalk 6-2, 6-7, 6-0 3 - Milos Jirout (BGSU) def. Christian Brattstrom 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 4 - Joel Carney (BGSU) def. Justin Kates 6-0, 6-2 5 - Ian Bliss (BGSU) def. Erik Lindroos 6-0, 6-1 6 - Mike Kossoff (BGSU) def. Thomas Dennis 6-0, 6-2Doubles 1 - Maarschalk/Pathanjali (WMU) def. Ed Kuresman/Wild 8-4 2 - Bliss/Jirout (BGSU) def. Michael Findling/Daniel Grupp 8-6 3 - Carney/Hiscox (BGSU) def. Brattstrom/Dennis 8-6
