Ohio State Heads West to Take on UNC – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 18, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 6 Ohio State men’s tennis team advanced to the 2006 NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the third time in four years by collecting a pair of wins last weekend. The Buckeyes travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to face No. 11 North Carolina (25-4) at noon ET Saturday on the campus of Stanford University.
Ohio State is joined in its region by No. 3 Texas (24-3) and No. 14 Mississippi (20-5). The winner of the Ohio State-North Carolina match will take on the winner of the Texas-Mississippi match Sunday in the national quarterfinals.
OSU advanced by beating Butler (4-0) last Saturday and No. 25 Arkansas (4-0) Sunday. Both matches were held in Columbus as the Buckeyes extended their home win streak to 42-consecutive matches.
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
At 27-1, Ohio State has enjoyed its best season in program history. OSU’s record includes a nine-match win streak to start the season and an 18-match win streak to date.
2006 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Ohio State won the 2006 Big Ten Tournament April 30 by defeating then-No. 6 Illinois 4-2 in the championship match. The Buckeyes ended the Illini’s four-year hold on the title by handing them their first loss in the conference tournament since the Buckeyes beat them in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament final.
Ohio State beat Wisconsin 4-0 in the quarterfinals (April 28) and then-No. 39 Michigan 4-0 in the semifinals (April 29) to advance to the final.
Ohio State added the 2006 Big Ten Tournament title to go along with its regular-season championship earned by going 10-0 in regular-season conference play. BUCKEYES TAKE TWO BIG TEN TITLES
OSU clinched the outright regular season Big Ten title April 23 by defeating Wisconsin 6-1.
In regular season play, OSU beat then-No. 5 Illinois 5-2 to snap the Illini monopoly on the Big Ten. Illinois had not lost a regular season conference match since 1997. The streak lasted 86 matches and included eight regular-season Big Ten titles. Their only loss to a conference opponent during that streak was to Ohio State in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament title match.
DOUBLES RANKED NO. 1
The OSU tandem of seniors Scott Green and Ross Wilson are ranked No. 1 in the ITA Division I doubles polls released May 1. Green and Wilson are 31-3 overall, and 25-2 in dual matches this season. The duo posted a fall tournament record of 6-1. Green and Wilson became only the third doubles team in NCAA history to win three national championships. The Buckeye combination claimed the 2004 Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships and both the 2004 and 2005 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. The back-to-back indoor titles are a first in the 27-year history of the event.
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
The No. 11-ranked North Carolina men’s tennis team earned its first berth in the NCAA Sweet 16 since 1993. The Tar Heels defeated No. 22 Clemson 4-1 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., Sunday. This was UNC’s first regional championship since the tournament went to its current format in 1994.
The victory improved UNC to 25-4 and equaled the most wins in a season in Tar Heel history. The only other team to win 25 matches was the 1992 NCAA quarterfinalist team which finished 25-5.
BUCKEYES VS. TARHEELS
Ohio State has a 1-0-1 record against North Carolina. The teams last met in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament with the Buckeyes downing the Tarheels 4-3 in Chapel Hill.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
Texas is 24-3 on the year. The Longhorns beat Tennessee Tech (4-0) in their first round match Saturday in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns then downed No. 29 Rice 4-0 Sunday to advance to the Round of 16.
In regular season action, Texas claimed the 2006 Big 12 Conference Co-Championship. It was their first title since 1999. Texas shared the title with Baylor, a team it beat in the 2006 Big 12 Tournament Championship match.
The Longhorns are led by Michael Center, the 2006 Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year.
BUCKEYES VS. LONGHORNS
Ohio State has an 0-3 record against Texas. They last met in the second round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament with the Longhorns winning 4-1.
MISSISSIPPI REBELS
Mississippi improved to 22-5 on the season. Ole Miss, a 2005 national semifinalist, beat Belmont (4-0) in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament Saturday. The Rebels then beat Florida State (4-2) Sunday to advance to the Round of 16.
Ole Miss has made the NCAA tournament for 13-consecutive seasons. It has also hosted a regional seven of the last eight years. This season marked the sixth-consecutive season the Rebels have hosted.
Mississippi won the 2006 Southeastern Conference Western Division title for the fifth year in a row.
BUCKEYES VS. REBELS
Ohio State has an 0-2 record against Mississippi. The last time the two teams met, Ole Miss downed OSU 6-1 in 2003 season in Oxford, Miss.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 6 Ohio State won its first and second round matches of the 2006 NCAA Tournament last weekend. OSU beat Butler (4-0) Saturday, then downed No. 25 Arkansas (4-0) Sunday.
BREAKING THE MARK
This season the Buckeyes have compiled a .964 winning percentage, the best in school history. The previous mark was .862 set by the 2001 squad when OSU went 25-4. The 2001 team also recorded 17 wins in a row, a record that was just broken by the 2006 Buckeyes who are on an 18-match win streak.
BUCKEYES GO FOR “0”
Ohio State has shut out four of the last five opponents in postseason tournament play. The Buckeyes blanked Wisconsin and Michigan 4-0 in the 2006 Big Ten Tournament and then opened the 2006 NCAA Tournament with 4-0 wins vs. Butler and Arkansas. In seven seasons as Ohio State head coach, Ty Tucker teams own 63 shutout victories, including 12 wins in Big Ten tournament (7) and NCAA tournament (5) competition.
THE PLAYERS CLUB
OSU had a program record three athletes named to the 2006 All-Big Ten Team. Ty Tucker, head coach of the Buckeyes, was a unanimous selection as the league’s coach of the year. Bryan Koniecko was named the league’s freshman of the year.
It is Tucker’s second career coach of the year honor. His first was in 2001. With the win over Wisconsin April 23, Tucker earned his 150th career win at the helm of the Buckeyes, which ranks second all-time among men’s tennis coaches at Ohio State. Tucker has a Big Ten record of 72-16 in seven seasons at Ohio State
Buckeye juniors Devin Mullings and Chris Klingemann along with Koniecko were named to the 2006 all-league team. It is the second career award for Mullings, who was named to the 2005 All-Big Ten team. It is the first all-league honor for Klingemann and Koniecko. Koniecko was the only freshman selected to the 2006 team.
Mullings is 27-9 in singles and was 10-0 in Big Ten regular-season play.
Klingemann is 22-7 in singles and went 8-2 in the Big Ten. Klingemann and Mullings competed as one of the three doubles teams the Buckeyes used in Big Ten regular-season play. The pair has a record of 23-3 on the year and went 10-0 in the Big Ten. They also had a dual match doubles record of 21-2.
Koniecko was unanimously selected as the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He has a record of 25-12 in singles and went 7-3 in singles in the Big Ten regular season. Koniecko has a doubles record of 22-7 and is 19-4 with Drew Eberly (So. Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). The pair went 9-1 in the Big Ten. Koniecko is currently ranked the No. 33 singles player in the country in the latest ITA poll released May 1.
Senior Scott Green was the 2006 Sportsmanship Award Honoree from Ohio State. He is part of the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the country and is second all-time in career doubles wins at Ohio State with 116. His doubles partner, senior Ross Wilson is the Ohio State career doubles wins record holder with 117.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Ohio State has won the doubles point in 27 of its 28 dual matches this season. Ross Wilson and Scott Green have a 25-2 dual match record, all coming at the No. 1 doubles spot.
JUST WIN, BABY
OSU’s 27-1 season record marks the 12th time the Buckeyes have recorded at least 20 wins in a season. Head coach Ty Tucker has guided the Buckeyes to six 20-win seasons, including the current campaign. OSU has tied its most wins in program history with 27 in 1988.
SEVERAL BUCKEYES MAKE MOVE IN OHIO STATE RECORD BOOK
Ross Wilson earned his 102nd doubles win Feb. 26 to become the Buckeyes’ all-time career leader. Wilson now has 117 career doubles victories. Owning a 34-4 doubles record this year, Wilson has teamed with classmate Scott Green to compile a 31-3 mark. Green has 116 career wins to rank second all-time in OSU career doubles wins. Green is 37-4 this year with Wilson (31-3) and Dominic Ozanne (6-1).
BUCKEYES IN THE RANKINGS
The Buckeyes have four singles players ranked in the Top 115. Freshman Bryan Koniecko is No. 33 nationally, followed by junior Chris Klingemann at No. 86, freshmen Steven Moneke at No. 98 and junior Devin Mullings at No. 114. Klingemann is 22-7, Mullings has a record of 27-9, while Koniecko is 25-12 and Moneke is 20-6 in their rookie seasons.
HOME SWEET HOME
Ohio State has won 42-consecutive home matches. The streak extends back to the 2003 season.
NO. 300
Ohio State defeated Purdue 7-0 April 1 to earn its 300th Big Ten win.
VS. THE BIG TEN
Ohio State is 310-357-2 vs. Big Ten Conference opponents. The Buckeyes have winning records against Iowa (26-21), Penn State (14-5) and Purdue (64-18).
The Ohio State Buckeyes…
Drew Eberly – So.
Singles record: 9-4
Doubles record: 22-8
Drew Eberly has a doubles record of 19-4 with Bryan Koniecko this season … has a 7-0 record with Koniecko at the No. 3 doubles spot … is 9-1 in Big Ten doubles play … is 12-4 at the No. 2 doubles spot with Koniecko.
Scott Green – Sr.
Singles record: 8-5
Doubles record: 37-4
Scott Green is part of the No. 1 doubles team in the nation with Ross Wilson in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released May 1 … has a 31-3 record with Wilson this season … is 25-2 at the No. 1 dual spot with Wilson … went 10-0 in Big Ten play, all at the No. 1 spot … was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the week April 26 … ranks second all-time on the career doubles wins list with 116 … won the ITA All-American Indoor National Championships Nov. 6 for the second consecutive year with Wilson … has defeated three doubles teams (with Wilson) ranked in the Top 10 at the time of the match … was the third national championship of his career, becoming just the third doubles team in NCAA history to win three national titles … has an overall doubles record of 37-4 on the year … is 5-1 this season with Dominic Ozanne … a Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree this season … an ITA All-American last season.
Chris Klingemann – Jr.
2006 All-Big Ten
Singles record: 22-7
Doubles record: 29-5
Chris Klingemann is 9-2 at the No. 1 singles spot this season … is 17-5 in singles dual play this season … went 8-2 in singles in the Big Ten this year … was named the Big Ten Player of the Week March 29 …is 27-5 in doubles play this season … is 23-3 with Devin Mullings … is 16-1 at the No. 3 doubles spot with Mullings … is 5-1 at the No. 2 doubles spot with Mullings … is 21-2 in dual matches with Mullings … went 10-0 in Big Ten doubles matches this season with Mullings and is ranked No. 86 in the latest ITA rankings released May 1.
Bryan Koniecko – Fr.
2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year,
All-Big Ten
Singles record: 25-12
Doubles record: 22-7
Bryan Koniecko is 25-12 in singles this season … is currently ranked No. 33 in the latest ITA national rankings released May 1 … is 18-7 in dual play … is 6-1 at the No. 3 singles spot this year … is 6-4 at the No. 2 singles spot this season … advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Indoor Championships … has a doubles record of 22-7 … is 19-4 with Drew Eberly … has a 7-0 record with Eberly at the No. 3 doubles spot … went 9-1 in Big Ten doubles play … is 12-4 at the No. 2 doubles spot with Eberly … was the only freshmen to be selected to the 2006 All-Big Ten Team.
Dennis Mertens – Sr.
Singles record: 28-5
Doubles record: 5-1
Dennis Mertens has a 28-5 singles record on the year … is a combined 10-0 at the Nos. 4 and 5 singles spots … has a 19-2 dual match singles record … went 10-0 in Big Ten singles play … is three wins shy of catching Doug Bloom at No. 10 on the OSU all-time career singles wins list with 87 … is 5-1 in doubles this season.
Steven Moneke – Fr.
Singles record: 20-6
Doubles record: 3-0
Steven Moneke was named the Big Ten Player of the Week March 6 … is 20-6 in singles on the year … went 6-1 in singles in the Big Ten this season … is 10-2 at the No. 4 singles spot … is 18-5 in dual matches in singles this year … is 3-0 in doubles this season … clinched match at No. 4 singles vs. Arkansas to send the Buckeyes to Stanford for the Round of 16.
Devin Mullings – Jr.
2006 All-Big Ten
Singles record: 27-9
Doubles record: 25-4
Devin Mullings has a 27-9 singles record this season … is 8-1 at the No. 2 singles spot this year … is 10-0 at the No. 3 singles spot … is 21-5 in dual play this season … went 10-0 in Big Ten singles play this year …was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the week April 12 … advanced to the semifinals of the ITA Midwest Regionals … is No. 14 on the OSU all-time singles win list with 79 … is 25-4 in doubles play this season … is 23-3 with Chris Klingemann … is 16-1 at the No. 3 doubles spot with Klingemann … is 5-1 at the No. 2 doubles spot with Klingemann … is 21-2 in dual matches with Klingemann … went 10-0 in Big Ten doubles matches this season with Klingemann.
Ross Wilson – Sr.
Singles record: 24-5
Doubles record: 34-4
Ross Wilson is part of the No. 1 doubles team in the nation with Scott Green in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released May 1 … has a 31-3 record with Green this season … is 25-2 at the No. 1 dual spot with Green … went 10-0 in Big Ten play, all at the No. 1 spot … was named the Big Ten Player of the Week April 5 … is the career leader for all-time doubles wins list with 117 … won the ITA All-American Indoor National Championships Nov. 6 for the second consecutive year with Green … has defeated four doubles teams ranked in the Top 10 at the time of the match with Green … was the third national championship of his career, becoming just the third doubles team in NCAA history to win three national titles … is 34-4 in doubles overall this year, went 3-1 with Bryan Koniecko … is 24-5 in singles this year … has an 11-1 record at the No. 5 spot this season … is 7-0 at the No. 6 spot … is 19-2 in dual matches this season … has 88 career singles wins to rank No. 10 on the all-time OSU list, one win shy of No. 9 Chris Gaat (1986-89).
Noting Ohio State Tennis…
Ohio State tied a school record with 27 victories to date. TheBuckeyes were 27-10 in 1988. Ohio State’s winning percentage thisyear (27-1/.964) is an Ohio State record. Ty Tucker has taken OhioState to seven-consecutive NCAA team tournaments during his sevenyears as Ohio State’s head coach. The Buckeyes had never qualifiedfor the team event prior to Tucker’s arrival. Tucker is 155-41 overseven seasons in Columbus for a winning percentage of .791. His hasthe best winning percentage of the 12 men’s tennis coaches in OhioState history. Tucker has six-consecutive 20-win seasons as OSUhead coach. The Buckeyes have 12 all-time. The Buckeyes are 10-6 inNCAA tournament play and are 2-0 in Columbus. Ohio State hasadvanced to the Round of 16 for the third time in the last fouryears. The Buckeyes last advanced to the third round of NCAA teamtournament play in 2004. Ohio State advanced to the quarterfinalsthat season before a loss to eventual national champion Baylor.Seniors Scott Green and Ross Wilson are the No. 1-seeded doublesteam in the 2006 NCAA Doubles Championship. The 32-team tournamentbegins May 24 at Stanford. Wilson (117) and Green (116) rank Nos. 1and 2, respectively, in career doubles wins at Ohio State. Green’s36 doubles wins this season (31 with Wilson and five with DominicOzanne) ranks No. 2 all-time in single season doubles wins.Wilson’s 34 doubles wins this season are the fourth most in OhioState history. Wilson has 88 career singles victories, the 10thmost in Ohio State history. Bryan Koniecko, the 2006 Big TenFreshman of the Year, will complete in the NCAA singleschampionships at Stanford. That tournament begins May 24. OhioState has won the doubles point in 27 of 28 matches this season.Ohio State is 14-0 at home this season and has won 42-consecuitvematches in Columbus. Tucker’s Buckeyes are 88-6 overall in Columbusduring his tenure. Ohio State has gone undefeated at home in eachof the last three seasons and has won 42-consecutive matches on itshome court.
Noting the Tucker Era (as of May 16)
Ohio State …
has had 21 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and a two-timeAcademic All-American (Vincent Ng in 2002 and `03) has 14 All-BigTen selections has earned the program’s first Big Ten Men’s TennisAthlete of the Year (Ng, 2003), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (JoeyAtas, 2004/Bryan Koniecko, 2006) and Big Ten Coach of the Year(2001, 2006) awards is ranked No. 6 nationally as a team with a27-1 record (13-0 in the Big Ten) attained program’s best ranking(No. 4) April 5, 2006 has won 42-consecutive home matches (4/6/03to present) has won 18-consecutive home Big Ten matches has won18-consecutive dual matches overall earned 10 regular-season BigTen Conference dual match victories for first time in programhistory has the No. 1 ranked doubles team in Green and Wilson (31-3overall in 2006 and 3 national indoor titles from 2004-06) has6-consecutive 20-win seasons (a school record) with Tucker as thehead coach has 12 20-win seasons all-time, half with Tucker as headcoach has been to seven NCAA team tournaments in history, all underTucker had the No. 1 ranked singles player — Jeremy Wurtzman in2004 won the 2001 and 2006 Big Ten Tournaments won the outrightregular season 2006 Big Ten Championship has gone 72-16 (.818) inBig Ten dual competition has won 155 dual matches against 42defeats (.787) has a coach with an average record of 22-6 perseason (2000-present) has the best single season win percentage(2006) in school history (.964/27-1) had a player set school careersingles win record (132, Ng from 2000-03) has a player set theschool career doubles win record (117, Ross Wilson from2003-present; also Scott Green with 116 from 2003-present)
