University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
Gophers Handed First Big Ten Loss
4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 29-ranked Minnesota tennis team dropped a 4-2 decision at the hands of 11th-ranked Ohio State Friday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. The loss gave the Gophers a 14-6 record on the year and marked their first defeat in Big Ten action, giving them a 5-1 ledger in the conference.
All six of the Gophers' losses this season have come against top-25 opponents.
OSU got the early edge by rallying to gain the doubles point. After No. 76-ranked Leandro Toledo and Felix Corwin closed out No. 74 Mikael Torpegaard and Herkko Pollanen at No. 2, the Buckeyes became the fourth team to top Minnesota in doubles with victories at No. 3 and No. 1. Fifth-ranked Kevin Metka and Ralf Steinbach won in a tiebreaker at the top spot.
Ohio State claimed the first two singles matches to finish with wins by No. 83 Ralf Steinbach at No. 6 and Hunter Callahan at No. 4.
Toledo gave the Gophers life with a straight-set defeat of 32nd-ranked Mikael Torpegaard at the top spot and Matic Spec narrowed the gap to one point by storming back to beat No. 116 Herkko Pollanen in three sets at No. 3.
Against ranked singles opponents, Toledo is 8-9 on the season, while Spec is 3-1.
No. 44 Chris Diaz clinched the match for the Buckeyes with a win over Ruben Weber at the second position, making it 4-2. Jack Hamburg forced a third set at No. 5 after falling behind, but did not get to complete his match.
The Gophers get back to action Sunday with a contest against No. 49-ranked Penn State.
No. 11 Ohio State 4, No. 9 Minnesota 2
OSU Varsity Tennis Center (Columbus, Ohio)
Singles competition
1. No. 25 Leandro Toledo (MINN) def. No. 32 Mikael Torpegaard (OSU) 7-5, 6-1
2. No. 44 Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Ruben Weber (MINN) 6-3, 7-6 (1)
3. No. 104 Matic Spec (MINN) def. No. 116 Herkko Pollanen (OSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Felix Corwin (MINN) 6-4, 6-0
5. Jack Hamburg (MINN) vs. Kevin Metka (OSU) 5-7, 7-6 (4)
6. No. 83 Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Mathieu Froment (MINN) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. No. 5 Kevin Metka/Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. No. 49 Mathieu Froment/Jack Hamburg (MINN) 8-7 (0)
2. No. 76 Leandro Toledo/Felix Corwin (MINN) def. No. 74 Mikael Torpegaard/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) 8-3
3. No. 55 Hunter Callahan/Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Matic Spec/Eric Frueh (MINN) 8-6
Match Notes:
Minnesota 14-6 (5-1 B1G)
Ohio State 17-7 (5-1 B1G)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,4,1,3,2)
