TOLEDO, OH - After dropping their opening match by a 4-3 count to Butler, the Rockets men's tennis team bounced back with a 6-1 victory over Wayne State Saturday night at Laurel Hill.
Toledo dropped the doubles point against the Bulldogs, and despite a solid effort across the top of the lineup, could not pull through with the victory. Sven Burus earned his second victory at No. 1 singles this season after taking a straight-set decision, while Knot Likitkumchorn and Aleksandar Elezovic also recorded two-set wins at No. 2 and No. 3. The Rockets, though, could not earn that fourth singles victory that would have led to the match win.
"Butler is a really solid team this year," Al Wermer, head coach, said. "We beat them in a close match last year and they brought back all their players and already have a win over a ranked team. This match shows what our potential is for the second half of the year. We had match point at No. 1 doubles and couldn't convert."
The Rockets stormed back in the nightcap by sweeping the doubles matches against Wayne State. Likitkumchorn and Elezovic earned a win at first doubles, while Burus and Leo Sarria were victorious at No. 2 and Bryant Dudzik and Terence Weigand cruised at No. 3.
In singles action, a quartet of Rockets were winners in straight sets in Elezovic at No. 2, Sarria at No. 3, Dudzik at No. 4 and Leonardo Henriques at No. 5. Weigand went to a tiebreaker after dropping the first set and cruised with a 10-1 victory.
"We sat two starters against Wayne State, but our attitude and fight was great and we're really improving," Wermer said.
Toledo hits the road with a 7-7 record and faces off against No. 41 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Butler 4, Toledo 3
Singles competition
1. Sven Burus (UT) def. HERRON, Chris (BU) 6-1, 6-2
2. N. Likitkumchorn (UT) def. RAYNAULD, Ben (BU) 7-6, 6-1
3. Aleksandar Elezovic (UT) def. WARREN, Bryce (BU) 7-5, 6-1
4. BAYLISS, Brandon (BU) def. Leo Sarria (UT) 6-3, 6-3
5. THEODOR, Lenz (BU) def. Bryant Dudzik (UT) 6-1, 6-2
6. ERVIN, Zach (BU) def. Gursher Harika (UT) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. RAYNAULD, Ben/WARREN, Bryce (BU) def. Aleksandar Elezovic/N. Likitkumchorn (UT) 9-7
2. Sven Burus/Leo Sarria (UT) def. THEODOR, Lenz/McLOUGHLIN, Stephen (BU) 8-5
3. HERRON, Chris/ERVIN, Zach (BU) def. Bryant Dudzik/Terence Weigand (UT) 8-4
Toledo 6, Wayne State 1
Singles competition
1. Bertrand Moulin (WS) def. Nutthavit Likitkumchorn (UT) 6-3, 7-6
2. Aleksandar Elezovic (UT) def. Britton Steele (WS) 7-5, 6-1
3. Leo Sarria (UT) def. Thomas Ducret (WS) 6-4, 6-3
4. Bryant Dudzik (UT) def. Oscar Gamarra (WS) 6-3, 6-4
5. Leonardo Henriques (UT) def. Jon Groszek (WS) 6-3, 6-1
6. Terence Weigand (UT) def. Kevin Turnbull (WS) 2-6, 6-4, 10-1
Doubles competition
1. Nutthavit Likitkumchorn/Aleksandar Elezovic (UT) def. Bertrand Moulin/Britton Steele (WS) 8-5
2. Sven Burus/Leo Sarria (UT) def. Oscar Gamarra/Kevin Turnbull (WS) 8-5
3. Terence Weigand/Bryant Dudzik (UT) def. Thomas Ducret/Jon Groszek (WS) 8-1
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
