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Gophers Handle Purdue 5-2 for Bounce-Back Win
4/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Gopher Men's Tennis claimed its first road Big Ten victory Sunday as the team defeated Purdue 5-2 indoors at the Basham Courts at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
No. 31 Minnesota (12-6, 5-2 Big Ten) controlled doubles play with set point on all three courts before clinching the point. Marino Alpeza and Stefan Milicevic started things with a 6-4 win at the #3 spot, while Felix Corwin and Josip Krstanovic claimed a 6-2 win at #1 doubles. Matic Spec and Eli Ogilvy held a 5-4 lead when the Gophers clinched.
"We did a good job coming out in doubles with a lot of energy," said head coach Geoff Young. "We went for our shots which led to early leads on all three courts."
The momentum continued into singles play. The Gophers held the lead on four courts after the first set of singles. No. 86 Matic Spec, who battled to a 7-5 victory in the first set of #2 singles, rolled 6-1 in the second to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead. Purdue (9-13) got on the scoreboard, claiming the #4 singles spot to pull within 2-1. Two rookies clinched the victory for the Maroon & Gold, as Jackson Allen returned to the line-up with a 6-3, 6-2 win at #6 singles while Vlad Lobak picked up his first victory at the #5 singles spot, 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 over Javier Rodriguez.
No. 95 Stefan Milicevic needed three sets, but he picked up the fifth victory of the day for Minnesota, defeating Mateo Julio in a tightly contested match, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. No. 101 Felix Corwin took no. 92 Gergely Madarasz to three sets but inevitably could not claim the win, falling 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final decision of the day.
"We competed well. Even when the score was tight, we kept going for our shot and making it hard for our opponents," said Young. "Overall, I think it was a good weekend to learn from so we can get ready for the upcoming weekend at home against Michigan and Michigan State."
Singles
1. #92 Gergely Madarasz (PUR) def. #101 Felix Corwin (MINN) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
2. #86 Matic Spec (MINN) def. Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) 7-5, 6-1
3. #96 Stefan Milicevic (MINN) def. Mateo Julio (PUR) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
4. Athell Bennett (PUR) def. Josip Krstanovic (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
5. Vlad Lobak (MINN) def. Javier Rodriguez (PUR) 3-6, 6-0, 7-5
6. Jackson Allen (MINN) def. Dominik Sochureck (PUR) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Felix Corwin / Josip Krstanovic (MINN) def. Mateo Julio/Dominik Sochureck (PUR) 6-2
2. Athell Bennett/Maksymilian Raupuk (PUR) vs. Eli Ogilvy / Matic Spec (MINN) 4-5, unfinished
3. Marino Alpeza / Stefan Milicevic (MINN) def. Gergely Madarasz/Javier Rodriguez (PUR) 6-4
Order of Finish
Doubles (3, 1) … Singles (2,4,6,5,3,1)
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns to Baseline Tennis Center one last time this season as the Gophers host Michigan State and Michigan next week. The Gopher and Spartans will get the action started Friday with first serve set for 3 p.m.
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