COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2-ranked Ohio State was on the road Friday night for the first Big Ten matchup of the season against No. 23 Northwestern. The Buckeyes battled back after dropping the doubles point to win the match 4-1.
The match marks the third time this season the Buckeyes have lost the doubles point yet persevered to win the match via four singles victories. The four winners for the Buckeyes were Justin Boulais, James Trotter, Cannon Kingsley, and Alexander Bernard.
Ohio State is now 8-2 against Top 25 ranked teams this season and improve to 28-1 against Northwestern since 2000, with Friday’s match being the 22nd straight win against the Wildcats. The Buckeyes are 1-0 in Big Ten play and 18-2 overall on the season.
Doubles
- Court one finished first as the Northwestern team of Steven Forman and Simen Bratholm topped Buckeyes Robert Cash and Boulais 6-4.
- Northwestern’s pair of Ivan Yatsuk and Gleb Blekher were the first to break Ohio State’s No. 7-ranked Andrew Lutschaunig and Trotter, taking the lead in the match 4-2 at doubles two. The Wildcat duo held on to defeat the Buckeyes 6-4.
- Kingsley and JJ Tracy’s match went unfinished on doubles three after trailing 5-4 to Northwestern’s Trice Pickens and Natan Spear.
Singles
- No. 63-ranked Bernard started hot on court five with a 6-2 first set win, then cruised to a 6-4 victory in the second set to secure his win over Presley Thieneman. Bernard now improves to 11-3 overall in his freshman campaign.
- Trotter finished first on court four with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Pickens. Trotter, the 25th-ranked player in the country, eased his way through the match to a stress-free win. The Buckeye improves to 16-0 on the year.
- Boulais fought hard to break Forman during the first set, taking the advantage after a 4-4 tie and managed to hold on for a 6-4 victory. The second set was much smoother for No. 53-ranked Boulais, as he defeated Forman 6-3 to add the third tally for the Buckeyes.
- On court two, No. 12-ranked Kingsley had his way in the first set with a 6-3 win over Yatsuk. Things got much tougher for the Buckeye in the second set as the set reached a tiebreaker. Kingsley fought off an early tiebreak deficit to win the set 7-6(5) and clinch the match for Ohio State.
Up Next
- The Buckeyes travel to Champaign, Ill., for their third matchup of the season with Illinois. Ohio State is 2-0 thus far against the Fighting Illini this season and have won 12 of the last 13 meetings. The first serve is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Atkins Tennis Center.
#2 Ohio State 4, #23 Northwestern 1
Singles
1. #53 Justin Boulais (OSU) def. #54 Steven Forman (NU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #12 Cannon Kingsley (OSU) def. Ivan Yatsuk (NU) 6-3, 7-6(5)
3. #15 JJ Tracy (OSU) vs. Simen Bratholm (NU) 3-6, 4-5, unfinished
4. #25 James Trotter (OSU) def. Trice Pickens (NU) 6-4, 6-4
5. #63 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Jack Anthrop (OSU) vs. Gleb Blekher (NU) 7-6(6), 3-1, unfinished
Doubles
1. Steven Forman/Simen Bratholm (NU) def. #36 Robert Cash/Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-4
2. Ivan Yatsuk/Gleb Blekher (NU) def. #7 Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter (OSU) 6-4
3. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) vs. Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (NU) 4-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Ohio State 18-2; National ranking #2
Northwestern 10-7; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,5,1,2)
T- 3:03
#GoBucks
