Ohio State
Michigan State
No. 3 Buckeyes Beat Michigan State 7-0 in Big Ten Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 12, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The third-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team won its Big Ten opener after shutting out No. 55 Michigan State 7-0 in its first road match of the year Sunday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. It was the 14th-consecutive victory vs. the Spartans, helping Ohio State stay unbeaten at 9-0 this season.
Ille Van Engelen came back after losing his first set to defeat Austin Brooks 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on court four to claim the decisive fourth match point during singles.
Ohio State (9-0) moves to 41-35 all-time against the Spartans (6-5), including a 14-0 mark under head coach Ty Tucker. The Buckeyes have won their Big Ten openers 12 consecutive seasons. The last time the Scarlet and Gray lost a conference opener was in Coach Tucker’s first year (1999) against Minnesota.
In doubles competition, Devin McCarthy and Van Engelen, the nation’s 15th-ranked tandem, beat Denis Bogatov and Gijs Linders 8-1 on court three to give the Buckeyes an early advantage. Shortly after, Chase Buchanan and Blaz Rola, the top-ranked duo nationally, handed the Spartan pair of Aaron Pfister and Drew Lied an 8-3 loss to garner the doubles point.
Connor Smith and Peter Kobelt concluded doubles play, downing Brooks and Harry Jadun 8-6.
Buchanan and Rola got off to a fast pace in singles as well. Buchanan, the two-time defending Big Ten Athlete of the Year, beat Pfister 6-1, 6-0, while Rola, the nation’s eighth-ranked player, was victorious on court two 6-2, 6-2 against Bogatov. Van Engelen guaranteed the Buckeyes the victory with his come from behind win shortly after.
In other singles action, all three Buckeyes lost a set but came out with victories. Kobelt defeated Ronnie Hulewicz 7-6, 6-7, 10-6 on court three to extend Ohio State’s lead to 5-0. Smith downed Lied 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 5 while McCarthy posted a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory on court six.
As the third-ranked team nationally, Ohio State is an outstanding 71-2.
The Buckeyes head to Charlottesville, Va., to compete with 15 other teams in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships Feb. 17-21. They won the ITA Kick-Off Weekend earlier this season to earn the chance to compete at the prestigious event.
Break Points:
- The Buckeyes move to 41-35 vs. Michigan State, including 14-0 under Coach Tucker.
- As the No. 3 ranked team nationally, Ohio State is 71-2.
- Ohio State has won 59 of its last 60 regular-season (non-tournament) road contests dating back to 2006.
- The Buckeyes have been victorious in 26 of their previous 27 matches (the only loss occurred in the 2011 NCAA semifinals vs. No. 1 Virginia).
- Since 2001, Ohio State is 254-36 when ranked in the ITA Top 25. That mark improves to 207-13 from the 2005-06 season onward.
- The Buckeyes have been ranked in the ITA Top 10 for 171-consecutive matches (beginning March 7, 2006).
- Ohio State has won 80 consecutive B1G conference matches.
No. 3 Ohio State (9-0), 7 vs. No. 55 Michigan State, 0 (6-5)
Feb. 12, 2012
East Lansing, Mich.
MSU Indoor Tennis Facility
Doubles
1. Chase Buchanan/Blaz Rola (OSU) def. Aaron Pfister/Drew Lied (MSU) 8-3
2. Peter Kobelt/Connor Smith (OSU) def. Austin Brooks/Harry Jadun (MSU) 8-6
3. Devin McCarthy/Ille Van Engelen (OSU) def. Denis Bogatov/Gijs Linders (MSU) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Chase Buchanan (OSU) def. Aaron Pfister (MSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Blaz Rola (OSU) def. Denis Bogatov (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Ronnie Hulewicz (MSU) 8-6, 6-8, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Ille Van Engelen (OSU) def. Austin Brooks (MSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Connor Smith (OSU) def. Drew Lied (MSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
6. Devin McCarthy (OSU) def. Gijs Linders (MSU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6
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