University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Heads to Big Ten Tournament
4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin: Minnesota won 5-2 at Wisconsin on Feb. 13 and could face the Badgers in the second round this week. Back in February, the Gophers beat the then-No. 39 Badgers despite losing the doubles point. Sebastian Gallego earned Minnesota's first singles point with a 6-2, 6-1 romp at No. 2 singles against Ricardo Martin. Julian Dehn beat Alex Robles 6-4, 6-1 at No. 6 singles for Minnesota's second point. Wisconsin leveled the match at 2-2 when Marek Michalicka defeated Rok Bonin 6-4, 7-5 at first singles. The Gophers won the final three matches to earn the win. Brendan Ruddock, Phillip Arndt and Tobias Wernet all earned three-set wins to round out the scoring. Ruddock rallied to top Rodney Carey 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and then Arndt clinched the match for the Gophers with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory against Billy Bertha. Wernet finished the day with a thrilling 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory against Petr Satral. Wisconsin knocked Minnesota out of the Big Ten tournament last year with a 4-0 victory in the first round.
Minnesota vs. Penn State: The Gophers defeated Penn State 6-1 on April 15 at home and could face the Nittany Lions in the second round this week. Minnesota swept the doubles competition in April, but all three matches were close as the Gophers won 9-8 (5) at No. 1, 9-8 (7) at No. 2 and 8-5 at No. 3. In singles, Tobias Wernet beat Eddie Bourchier 6-3, 6-3 at the first position. Rok Bonin ousted Jason Lee 6-4, 6-2 at second singles, while Phillip Arndt won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. Julian Dehn dispatched Christopher Hasyn 6-3, 6-3 at the fifth slot and Michael Sicora won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 6 singles. Minnesota's lone loss was at the third position where Russell Bader outlasted Brendan Ruddock 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Playing The Best: Eighteen of Minnesota's 21 opponents were ranked by the ITA as of April 26. Against those teams, the Gophers were 14-4 this season.
Big Ten Success: Minnesota went 8-2 in the Big Ten this year, which was its best season in conference play since it was 8-2 in 2004. The Gophers finished third in the league behind Ohio State (10-0) and Indiana (9-1) to secure their second top-three Big Ten finish in coach Geoff Young's five year tenure. Minnesota also placed third in 2009 when it finished the Big Ten season with a 7-3 mark.
Not A Lot: The Gophers were 17-4 this year and all four of their losses came to ranked competition. The four defeats are the fewest in a season for Minnesota since it was 28-3 during the 1993 season.
Off Court Success: The men's tennis team was recently recognized as the most outstanding team in regards to community service. The Gophers received a Golden Goldy at a recent athletic banquet for their commitment to giving back to the community. The team performed more community service hours on average than any other men's athletic team at Minnesota.
Grinding It Out:
Of Minnesota's 17 wins only five were either 7-0 or 6-1. The Gophers defeated No. 41 Nebraska 6-1, No. 70 Northwestern 6-1, Marquette 6-1, Penn State 6-1 and Denver 7-0. Minnesota earned four points in six of its wins this year and five points in the remaining six.
Warning: Deep End: Minnesota was very competitive at the four, five and six positions this season. The Gophers were 13-6 at No. 3, 12-8 at No. 4 and 13-8 at No. 6 for a collective 38-22 record. Minnesota, which was 13-8 at second singles, had a collective record of 34-28 at spots one, two and three.
Double Dip: In 18 of the 21 matches the Gophers played, whichever team won the doubles point won the overall match. Minnesota lost the doubles point against No. 28 Virginia Tech and No. 39 Wisconsin, but still won the overall matches 4-3 and 5-2, respectively. The Gophers won the doubles point against No. 27 Indiana, but lost the match 4-3.
Perfect 10: Rok Bonin was a perfect 10-0 in Big Ten doubles play at the second position this season. He was 4-0 when paired with Tobias Wernet and 6-0 when he partnered with Julian Dehn.
Terrific Tobias: Tobias Wernet began the season playing No. 4 singles, but ended the year as the top player for Minnesota. The senior was a team-best 16-4 in the spring season and was 8-2 in the Big Ten. Wernet was 3-3 against ranked competition this season and ended the year with a 4-2 record at No. 1, a 5-1 record at No. 2, a 6-1 record at No. 3 and a 1-0 record at No. 4. His signature win of the year was a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 upset of tenth-ranked Dennis Nevolo of Illinois on April 22. Wernet was named the Big Ten Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week for April 5 and April 26.
Road Warriors: Minnesota was a perfect 5-0 on the road in Big Ten play and was successful against non-conference teams on the road as well. The Gophers recorded road victories against ranked foes Miami (Fla.) and Nebraska and picked up neutral-site wins against St. Mary's and a ranked Fresno State team. Collectively, Minnesota was 9-2 away from Baseline Tennis Center.
2010-11 Men's Tennis Bios
PHILLIP ARNDT • JUNIOR
Spring Season: Was 11-7 in singles and 14-6 in doubles in the spring season • won four straight singles matches from Feb. 4-20 • all but two wins came in straight sets • went 11-4 at the No. 4 and lost consecutive matches only once • competed at No. 1 doubles in all 20 matches he played in (was 2-2 with Brendan Ruddock while regular partner Sebastian Gallego was hurt) • was 12-4 in dual match play when partnered with Gallego • Gopher tandem finished ranked 67th in the country by the ITA • won seven consecutive matches from Feb. 20 to April 2 • won an epic 9-8 (14) match to clinch a doubles competition win against Northwestern on 3/25. Fall Season: Finished the fall season with a 10-3 singles record • defeated Jeremy Langer for the second time in as many days to win the Big Ten Indoor singles consolation title (10/30) • defeated 61st-ranked Christopher Aumueller of Nebraska 6-4, 6-4 at the ITA Central Region Championships to cap a six-match winning streak (10/22) • had a 5-6 fall doubles ledger paired with three different teammates • teamed up with Sebastian Gallego to reach quarterfinals of the ITA Central Region Championships (10/22-23).
ROK BONIN • SOPHOMORE
Spring Season: Went 10-11 in singles play and 14-6 in doubles • played at No. 1 singles for 14 of 21 dual matches; played No. 2 in the rest • won seven of eight matches from 2/20 to 4/2 • beat 122nd-ranked Mauricio Ballivian of Drake in straight sets on 2/25 • decided 4-3 victory over No. 25 Miami with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8) win at No. 1 • took down Illinois' Roy Kalmanovich at No. 2 on 4/22 to clinch Minnesota's first victory over Illinois since 1996 • played at No. 2 doubles in all but one match for the Gophers, going 10-0 in Big Ten play (6-0 with Julian Dehn and 4-0 with Tobias Wernet) • had a dominating 8-1 doubles record when paired with Dehn • won final eight doubles matches overall, including two wins over ranked opponents • with Dehn, topped 66th-ranked Chase Buchanan and Shuhei Uzawa of Ohio State 8-4 on 4/17, becoming one of three Big Ten doubles duos to beat an OSU doubles team this season. Fall Season: Went 11-2 in fall singles play with both losses coming to ranked opponents • won singles title at Denver Pioneer Invitational by going 4-0 against opponents from Denver and New Mexico (9/24-26) • went 3-0 at Chowder Fest at Harvard University, taking down opponents from Harvard, South Carolina, and Notre Dame (10/1-3) • won three straight matches to reach semifinals of the Lakewood Ranch Clay Court Classic in Tampa, Fla., including a 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 72 Christian Blocker of Florida (11/12) • had a cumulative 8-3 record (including eight wins in his last nine matches) in doubles play in the fall, teaming up with Tobias Werner, Philip Arndt, and Julian Dehn • won the Lakewood Ranch doubles title paired with Dehn, defeating Andrew Butz and Michael Alford of Florida 9-8 (3) in the final match (11/14).
JULIAN DEHN • JUNIOR
Spring Season: Had a 13-8 singles record and was 16-4 in doubles in the spring • played in every match for the Gophers at either the No. 5 or 6 spot • was 10-3 at No. 6 • won 10 of 13 matches from 1/29 to 4/2 • saw action at all three doubles positions during the spring, going 8-2 in Big Ten play (2-2 with Brendan Ruddock and 6-0 with Rok Bonin) • had an impressive 8-1 doubles record when paired with Bonin and was 8-3 with Ruddock • won final nine doubles matches overall, including two wins over ranked opponents • on 4/17, teamed with Bonin to defeat 66th-ranked Chase Buchanan and Shuhei Uzawa of Ohio State 8-4, becoming one of three Big Ten doubles twosomes to beat an OSU doubles pair all season. Fall Season: Went 10-4 in singles play in the fall season • won all but one match in each fall tournament he played in • reached the semifinals in a field of 64 players of the Big Ten Indoor Tournament, defeating Brian Alden of Illinois, Billy Bertha of Wisconsin, and Josh MacTaggert and Isade Juneau of Indiana (10/30-31) • reached consolation draw final at Lakewood Ranch Clay Court Classic defeating No. 96 Carl Sundberg on the way (11/12-14) • played with four doubles partners in the fall, going 10-2 on the season • finished the fall by defeating Andrew Butz and Michael Alford of Florida 9-8 (3) in the final match of the Lakewood Ranch Classic doubles finals partnered with Rok Bonin (11/14).
SEBASTIAN GALLEGO • SENIOR
Spring Season: Was 7-8 in singles and 12-5 in doubles in dual match play • won four consecutive matches from 2/6-2/25, taking down 85th-ranked Filipp Pogostkin of Boise State and winning his only No. 1 singles match of the year at Nebraska in the process • competed at No. 1 doubles with Phillip Arndt in all but one match in which he played in the spring, going 12-4 • Gopher tandem finished ranked 67th in the country by the ITA • won seven of eight matches from Feb. 20 to April 2 • won an epic 9-8 (14) doubles match with Arndt to clinch a doubles competition win against Northwestern on March 25. Fall Season: Went 1-5 in fall singles play • lone win came against Guillermo Nicol of Wichita State at the ITA Central Region Championships in Norman, Okla. (10/22) • had a 4-4 doubles record in the fall, partnered with Tobias Wernet, Philip Arndt, and Brendan Ruddock • won two matches to reach quarterfinals at ITA Cental Region Championships in Norman, Okla. with Arndt as the 28th-ranked doubles duo • reached the semifinals of the Lakewood Ranch Clay Court Classic in Tampa, Fla. with Wernet (11/12-14).
BEN MIRKIN • FRESHMAN
Spring/Fall Season: Redshirt season and did not compete in any matches.
DEREK PETERSON • SENIOR 
Spring Season: Did not compete in any matches. Fall Season: Went 4-6 in singles play in the fall • posted a 2-2 record at the Denver Pioneer Invitational, taking down both Angel Alvarez of Denver and Simon Hegelund in straight sets • went 4-5 in doubles in the fall, partnered with three different teammates • won the Flight B doubles consolation draw and the Big Ten Indoor Tournament in East Lansing, Mich. with Philip Arndt (10/29).
JUAN PABLO RAMIREZ • FRESHMAN
Spring Season: Went 1-3 in singles and 4-2 in doubles as a new addition to the team in the spring • posted first collegiate win against Angel Alvarez 6-1, 6-1 on 3/26 to help Minnesota complete its only sweep of the season against Denver • played all six doubles matches (4-2 record) alongside Tobias Wernet, winning three straight from 4/8-15. Fall Season: Joined the team in January so he did not compete in the fall.
BRENDAN RUDDOCK • FRESHMAN
Spring Season: Had a ledger of 12-7 in singles and 10-9 in doubles • was last undefeated Minnesota player to compete in more than four singles matches after beginning the season with six wins in a row • played at No. 3, 4, and 5 positions, going 9-3 at the fifth flight • was 4-2 in three-set decisions • played with four different doubles partners and at all three doubles positions • clinched doubles point with Arndt with a doubles win over Penn State on 4/15, beating No. 67 Russell Bader and Eddie Bourchier. Fall Season: Went 6-4 in singles and 4-5 in doubles during the fall • started fall with three straight losses at the Denver Pioneer Invitational, but reeled off six consecutive wins from 9/26 to 10/30 • reached Round of 16 in singles at the Big Ten Indoor Tournament in East Lansing, Mich. (10/29-11/1) • reached Flight A semifinals in doubles with Julian Dehn at the Big Ten Indoors.
MICHAEL SICORA • JUNIOR
Spring Season: Split four singles matches and did not compete in doubles during the spring • secured a Minnesota win over Purdue with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Pawel Poziomski on 4/10. Fall Season: Had a fall singles record of 4-5 • three of four wins came in three sets • beat Chris Hasyn of Penn State and Drew Lied of Michigan State to reach Round of 16 at Big Ten Indoor Tournament in East Lansing, Mich. (10/30) • went 4-3 in doubles in the fall, playing all but one match partnered with Eddie Svenda.
EDDIE SVENDA • JUNIOR
Spring Season: Did not compete in any matches. Fall Season: Went 2-6 in singles play in the fall • both wins came at Denver Pioneer Invitational (9/25-26) • was 5-3 in doubles play, going 4-2 with Michael Sicora • won five of first six doubles matches of the season.
TOBIAS WERNET • SENIOR
Spring Season: Recorded 16-4 singles and 10-10 doubles records in dual matches • Competed and had a winning record at positions Nos. 1-4 in singles • was 3-3 against ranked opponents, earning wins over No. 50 Enej Bonin, No. 57 Jason Jung, and No. 10 Dennnis Nevolo • won first seven of eight and final eight of nine singles matches • was 8-2 in Big Ten singles • had a 5-0 Big Ten singles road record and a 9-1 record overall away from the Baseline Tennis Center • had a 6-0 record in three-set matches that were not decided by a match tiebreaker • played No. 2 and 3 doubles with Rok Bonin, Brendan Ruddock, and Juan Pablo Ramirez • won five straight doubles matches with Bonin and Ramirez from 4/2-4/15. Fall Season: Was 6-5 in singles play in the fall, including four of last six matches • reached Round of 16 at the ITA Central Region Championships in Norman Okla. (10/22-23) • was Minnesota's lone representative at the D'Novo ITA Men's All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. (10/4) • played with four different doubles partners in the fall, going 4-3 • reached ITA Central Region doubles quarterfinals with Rok Bonin (10/22-23).
Players Mentioned
