Ohio State
Xavier
No. 3 Buckeyes Complete Doubleheader Sweep with 7-0 Win vs. Xavier – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The third-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team defeated Xavier, 7-0, at the Varsity Indoor Tennis Center in the second half of its doubleheader Wednesday to begin the spring portion of its schedule. With the 7-0 victory against Butler earlier in the day, the Buckeyes have shut out the Bulldogs and Musketeers in six consecutive seasons in their home opener.
Devin McCarthy earned the match-clinching fourth point with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Philip Diaz at the No. 4 position.
Under the direction of head coach Ty Tucker, the Buckeyes now own a 26-0 opening-day record since Tucker took the program under his wing 13 years ago.
The Buckeyes have been almost perfect at home for the past decade, having now won 130 consecutive matches in Columbus, dating back to the 2002-03 season. The team also boasts an impressive 200-13 record since the 2005-06 season.
The Buckeyes got off to a fast start in doubles action after an 8-0 win on court three by Ille Van Engelen and Steven Williams against Freddy Abunku and Michael Moe to clinch the doubles point for the Scarlet and Gray.
Connor Smith and Peter Kobelt won the first match with an 8-2 triumph vs. Xavier’s Diaz and Mesa Mei.
McCarthy and Kevin Metka also were victorious as a tandem, handing Richard Canelas and Marc Pretorius an 8-4 setback on court two to secure a perfect 6-0 start to the spring schedule for the Buckeyes in doubles competition.
In singles, Van Engelen was the first Buckeye to finish, quickly winning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 vs. Moe to give Ohio State a 2-0 advantage. Smith wasn’t far behind, defeating Abunku 6-1, 6-2.
After McCarthy captured the fourth point, Hunter Callahan defeated Pretorius 6-3, 6-1 to inch the Buckeyes closer to a shutout.
Nelson Vick won on court one with a 6-1, 6-4 victory vs. Mei, while Kobelt won an 11-9 tiebreaker after splitting the first two sets with Canelas.
Ohio State is now 19-3 all-time vs. members of the Atlantic 10. With the win vs. Butler in the first of the two matches today, the Buckeyes are also 33-0 when competing against teams from the Horizon League.
The Buckeyes will continue their spring slate when Mississippi State travels to Columbus Sunday. The match vs. the Bulldogs will begin at noon at the VTC.
No. 3 Ohio State 7, Xavier 0
Jan. 18, 2012 at Columbus, Ohio
Varsity Tennis Center
Columbus, Ohio
Singles
1. Nelson Vick (OSU) def. Mesa Mei (XU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Richard Canelas (XU) 6-4, 4-6, 11-9
3. No. 116 Ille Van Engelen (OSU) def. Michael Moe (XU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Devin McCarthy (OSU) def. Philip Diaz (XU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Marc Pretorius (XU) 6-3, 6-1
6. No. 123 Connor Smith (OSU) def. Freddy Abunku (XU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Peter Kobelt/Connor Smith (OSU) def. Philip Diaz/Mesa Mei (XU) 8-2
2. Devin McCarthy/Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Richard Canelas/Marc Pretorius (XU) 8-4
3. Steven Williams/Ille Van Engelen (OSU) def. Freddy Abunku/Michael Moe (XU) 8-0
Match Notes:
Xavier 0-1
Ohio State 2-0; National ranking No. 3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,6,4,5,1,2)
Official: Vince Solomon
Time-2:30
Attendance-125
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