Jan. 29, 2006
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa men’s tennis team opened its spring season Sunday afternoon with a win against Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes swept doubles competition and went 5-6 in singles matches to defeat the Huskies, 6-1.
The Hawkeye team of senior Brett Taylor and sophomore J.P. Ritchie defeated Alex Friesen and Adam Ford of Northern Illinois in the No.1 doubles match, 8-3. Senior Chaitu Malempati and sophomore Bart van Monsjou made up Iowa’s No.2 doubles team. They defeated Brian Livingston and David Katz, 8-3. To finish doubles competition, senior Aaron Schaechterle teamed with freshman Christian Bierich to defeat Alfonso Monroy and Diego Zegarra-Ballon, 8-4.
The Hawkeyes carried their winning trend into singles competition. van Monsjou defeated Friesen in the No.1 match, 6-3, 7-5. At the No. 2 spot, Bierich suffered the Hawkeyes’ only loss of the day and was defeated by Livingston, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). Ritchie defeated Ford in the No. 3 match, 6-4, 7-6 (4). In the No. 4 match, Malempati defeated Katz, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-0. Taylor played the No. 5 singles match and beat Monroy, 6-2, 6-2. To finish singles competition, freshman Zach Frisch played the No. 6 spot and defeated Zegarra-Ballon, 6-4, 6-4.
“This was a good opening win for us,” said Iowa Head Coach Steve Houghton. “I am very pleased with the play of our veterans and the two freshmen.”
The Hawkeyes (1-0) will return to action Feb. 4 when they travel to Kalamazoo, MI, to face Western Michigan. Play will begin at 10 a.m. at the West Hills Athletic Club.
Results
Iowa 6
Northern Illinois 1
Singles
No. 1 van Monsjou (Iowa) def. Friesen (NIU) 6-3, 7-5
No. 2 Livingston (NIU) def. Bierich (Iowa) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
No. 3 Ritchie (Iowa) def. Ford (NIU) 6-4, 7-6 (4)
No. 4 Malempati (Iowa) def. Katz (NIU) 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-0
No. 5 Taylor (Iowa) def. Monroy (NIU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Frisch (Iowa) def. Zegarra-Ballon (NIU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 Taylor/Ritchie (Iowa) def. Friesen/Ford (NIU) 8-3
No. 2 Malempati/van Monsjou (Iowa) def. Livingston/Katz (NIU) 8-3
No. 3 Schaechterle/Bierich (Iowa) def. Monroy/Zegarra-Ballon (NIU) 8-4