TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's tennis team got off to an early lead but could not hold on for the match win against reigning Mid-American Conference Champions Western Michigan, falling 4-3 at Shadow Valley Tennis Club on Sunday afternoon.
"We are trying to crack a dynasty that has won four straight MAC Championships," head coach
Al Wermer said, "We don't expect an easy road."
The tone of the match was established early with a Rocket victory in doubles play. Western Michigan won the No. 2 court, but
Luis Kleinschnitz and
Matias Olivero won the No. 3 court to even the score.
Pawit Sornlaksup and
Krzysztof Wetoszka clinched the doubles team point for Toledo with a huge 6-4 victory at the No. 1 court and a 1-0 lead the match.
The Broncos came right back in singles play and quickly evened the match at 1-1 with a win from the No. 5 court in two sets.
Pawit Sornlaksup responded with a two-set win at the No. 1 court vs. Benjamin George, to keep his winning streak alive at 34 matches and remain untouched in against MAC opponents in 13 matches.
Western Michigan then won the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 to clinch the match at 4-2. Wetoszka lost his first set to Peter Kuszynski, the older brother of Julia Kuszynski who plays for the Toledo women's tennis team. Wetoszka won his second set and won the match in the deciding third set.
Toledo (9-5, 1-2 MAC) will head to New York state for its next two matches next weekend to take on Buffalo (5-5, 1-2 MAC) and Binghamton (4-13, 0-3 MAC).
Western Michigan 4, Toledo 3
Doubles
1.
Pawit Sornlaksup/
Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOL) 6-4)
2. Fynn Loshe, Anton Arzhankin (WMU) 6-3
3.
Luis Kleinschnitz/
Matias Olivero (TOL) 6-4
Singles
1.
Pawit Sornlaksup (TOL) 6-3, 6-2
2.
Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOL) 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-3
3. Anton Arzhankin (WMU) 7-6(4), 6-4
4. Arjun Honnappa (WMU) 6-1, 7-6(3)
5. Jackson Boone (WMU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Fynn Lohse (WMU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5