Ohio State
Xavier
No. 5 Ohio State Claims Shutout in Home Doubleheader Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 22, 2014
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 5 Ohio State men’s tennis team began the 2014 campaign with two 7-0 victories over Butler and Xavier, respectively, Wednesday at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes (2-0) are now a perfect 28-0 against the Bulldogs and Musketeers and improve their home win streak to 174-consecutive matches.
“It’s nice to get back to playing,” director of tennis and head coach Ty Tucker said. “We have some new rules in college tennis this year and some adjustments need to be made. We have to keep getting better, but I’m happy with the way we played today.”
The Scarlet and Gray will now prepare to host the 2014 ITA Kick-Off Weekend Saturday-Sunday in Columbus. Ohio State will begin play against Denver at 10 a.m. Saturday. As always, admission is free.
No. 5 Ohio State 7, Xavier 0
The Buckeyes claimed their second 7-0 shutout of the day with a win over the Xavier Musketeers Wednesday evening at the Varsity Tennis Center. Ohio State improved to 2-0 for the 2014 season by claiming both doubles matches and six singles matches. With their win, the Buckeyes continued their home win streak, now at 174 consecutive matches.
In doubles action, Redshirt Sophomore Chris Diaz (Columbus, Ohio) and redshirt freshman Ralf Steinbach (Halle, Germany) struck first with a 6-2 victory on court 3 over Matt Bishop and Zach Mueck. Redshirt Junior Hunter Callahan (Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania) and freshman Herkko Pollanen (Helsinki, Finland) then clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Adam Krull and Michael Moe. The No. 7 duo of redshirt senior Peter Kobelt (New Albany, Ohio) and redshirt junior Kevin Metka (Worthington, Ohio) led Mesa Mei and Jimmy Roebker 5-1 when play was called.
Rolling into singles play, the duo of Steinbach and Callahan continued to cruise of courts 5 and 6, respectively. Callahan was first to win his singles match with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Freddy Abunku. Steinbach followed with a 6-0,6-1 victory over Moe. Metka clinched the match with an ace to defeat Mueck 6-3, 6-4. At No. 1 singles, No. 31 Kobelt defeated Roebker 7-6(7-3),6-3. Kobelt and Roebker held twelve straight times en route to a tiebreaker. A pair of aces and a service winner gave Kobelt the match. Diaz followed with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Krull and Pollanen followed with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Mei to finish out play for the day.
Tennis Match Results
Xavier vs. No. 5 Ohio State
Jan 22, 2014 at Columbus, Ohio
Varsity Tennis Center
Singles
1. No. 31 Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Roebker, Jimmy (XU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Mei, Mesa (XU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Mueck, Zach (XU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Krull, Adam (XU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Moe, Michael (XU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Abunku, Freddy (XU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. No. 7 Peter Kobelt/Kevin Metka (OSU) vs. Mei, Mesa/Roebker, Jimmy (XU) 5-1, unfinished
2. Hunter Callahan/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Krull, Adam/Moe, Michael (XU) 6-2
3. Chris Diaz/Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Bishop, Matt/Mueck, Zach (XU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,5,3,1,4,2)
Official: Vince Solomon T-2:17 A-106
No. 5 Ohio State 7, Butler 0
The Buckeyes did quick work in its opening match of the season, posting a 7-0 shutout in just an hour and 41 minutes at the Varsity Tennis Center Wednesday afternoon. Ohio State is now 15-0 all-time vs. the Bulldogs. Ohio State started the match by claiming the first two wins in doubles and claiming all singles victories in straight sets.
Freshman Herkko Pollanen a clinched the match with a 6-2,6-0 win on court No. 2. The Helsinki, Finland native made his debut for the Buckeyes.
In doubles action, Kevin Metka and Ralf Steinbach stormed to a 6-0 win over Brandon Woods and Sam O’Neill at No. 1 doubles. Peter Kobelt and Marco Goles-Babic cinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Alex and Austin Woldmoe on court 2. Hunter Callahan and Pollanen had game point at 4-3 over Tommy Marx and Andres Maynez when play was called.
In singles play, Steinbach, a native of Halle, Germany, was the first off of the court with a 6-0,6-1 win over Marx on court No. 5. The win marked the first of his collegiate career as a Buckeye. Callahan, a native of Lower Gwynedd, Pa., was next to win with a 6-0,6-1 over Alex Woldmoe at No. 5 singles. Pollanen made his Ohio State singles debut on court No. 2 and won his match, downing his opponent 6-2, 6-0, and seconds later, Metka claimed his match over Brandon Woods 6-1,6-1.
Kobelt, who is ranked No. 31 in the country to begin his senior campaign, was the next victor for the Buckeyes with a 6-2,6-1 win over Pulok Bhattacharya. Finishing out play for the Buckeyes was Chris Diaz, who defeated Austin Woldmoe 6-2,6-0 on court No. 3.
Tennis Match Results
Butler vs. No. 5 Ohio State
Jan 22, 2014 at Columbus, Ohio
Varsity Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Kevin Metka/Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Brandon Woods/Sam O’Neill (BUT) 6-0
2. Marko Goles-Babic/Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Alex Woldmoe/Austin Woldmoe (BUT) 6-2
3. Hunter Callahan/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) vs. Tommy Marx/Andres Maynez (BUT) 4-3, unfinished
Singles
1. No. 31 Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. Pulok Bhattacharya (BUT) 6-2, 6-1
2. Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Sam O’Neill (BUT) 6-2, 6-0
3. Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Austin Woldmoe (BUT) 6-2, 6-0
4. Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Brandon Woods (BUT) 6-1, 6-1
5. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Tommy Marx (BUT) 6-0, 6-1
6. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Alex Woldmoe (BUT) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,6,2,4,1,3)
Official: Vince Solomon T-1:42 A-85
