Ohio State
Tennessee Tech
Buckeyes Advance with 5-0 Win over Tennessee Tech – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 14, 2016
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 5-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team remains perfect in NCAA Tournament matches in Columbus as it rolled to a 5-0 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday in the opening round.
The Buckeyes improve to 31-2 on the season and will face No. 33 Virginia Tech in the second round on Sunday. The Hokies outlasted No. 20 Kentucky in the first match of the day 4-3. Ohio State and Virginia Tech faced each other earlier this season with the Buckeyes coming away with a 4-0 victory in Columbus.
Ohio State won the doubles point on Saturday for the 15th-straight match, collecting a 6-0 victory from Matt Mendez and Hugo Di Feo on court three and a 6-2 win from Mikael Torpegaard and Herkko Pollanen on court one.
Ralf Steinbach then started the scoring in singles as he breezed past Marcos Bernardes 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 to put the Buckeyes ahead 2-0. It was Steinbach’s 28th singles victory of the season.
Di Feo also won in quick fashion as he bested Guillermo Nicolas 6-2, 6-1 on court three for his second-straight victory.
The only drama of the day came on courts five and six between Buckeyes Pollanen and Martin Joyce. Both players won the opening set and it became a race to see who could finish their match first. Pollanen was serving up 5-1 and Joyce was trying to break for the victory as he led 5-3. The clinching points would come at the same time giving the Buckeyes a rare 5-0 victory.
The win pushes OSU’s record to 21-0 in NCAA Tournament matches in Columbus.
#5 Ohio State 5, Tennessee Tech 0
Singles competition
1. #1 Mikael Torpegaard (OSU) vs. Eduardo Mena (TTU) 6-7 (5-7), 2-3, unfinished
2. #88 Chris Diaz (OSU) vs. Alberto Esteban (TTU) 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
3. #45 Hugo Di Feo (OSU) def. Guille Nicolas (TTU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Marcos Bernardes (TTU) 6-0, 6-1
5. #103 Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Jorge Alfonso (TTU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Martin Joyce (OSU) def. Alvaro Cintas (TTU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #22 Mikael Torpegaard/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) def. Alberto Esteban/Eduardo Mena (TTU) 6-2
2. #44 Ralf Steinbach/Martin Joyce (OSU) vs. Guille Nicolas/Jorge Alfonso (TTU) 3-3, unfinished
3. Matt Mendez/Hugo Di Feo (OSU) def. Marcos Bernardes/Alvaro Cintas (TTU) 6-0
Match Notes:
Tennessee Tech 15-7
Ohio State 31-2; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,3,5,6)
Official: Jeri Banks
