Iowa Defeated By Drake, 5-2

Feb. 28, 2008

DES MOINES, IA – The 66th-ranked University of Iowa men’s tennis team was defeated by 52nd-ranked Drake late Wednesday, 5-2. The Hawkeyes claimed the doubles point with two victories, and won one singles match. Iowa is now 5-2 this season.

In doubles competition Iowa’s duo of Christian Bierich and Austen Kauss was the first to finish, defeating Mauricio Ballivian and Ivan Mendoza 8-2 in the third doubles spot. Drake’s duo of Bokang Setshogo and Ricardo Lau evened up doubles play, beating Reinoud Haal and Gregory Holm, 8-3 at the second doubles position. With doubles play tied at one, Iowa came back to claim the point with a victory in no. 1 doubles. J.P. Ritchie and Bart van Monsjou defeated Maor Zirkin and Dalibor Pavic 9-8 (7-0).

Moving on to singles competition, Iowa had a strong start with Bierich’s victory at the no. 3 singles spot over Lau, 6-2, 6-2. However, the Hawkeyes could not hold on to the lead and were defeated in the remaining singles matches. 93rd-ranked van Monsjou was defeated by Zirkin at the first singles spot, 6-1, 7-5, while Ritchie lost to 47th-ranked Pavic, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 at no. 2 singles. Rounding out singles play was Haal, losing to Ballivian, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 at no. 4 singles, and McGeorge falling to Setshogo in a tiebreaking match, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 10-7 at the fifth singles spot. Iowa’s Holm was defeated by Mendoza 7-5, 6-1 at no. 6 singles.

Iowa will return home to host DePaul March 2 at 3 p.m. Competition will take place at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

Singles:1. Maor Zirkin (DU) def. #93 Bart van Monsjou (Iowa) 6-1, 7-52. #47 Dalibor Pavic (DU) def. J.P. Ritchie (Iowa)   6-1, 2-6, 6-33. Christian Bierich (Iowa) def. Ricardo Lau (DU)    6-2, 6-24. Mauricio Ballivian (DU) def. Reinoud Haal (Iowa)  7-6 (7-5), 6-35. Bokang Setshogo (DU) def. Tommy McGeorge (Iowa)   6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 10-76. Ivan Mendoza (DU) def. Gregory Holm (Iowa)           7-5, 6-1
Doubles:1. Ritchie/van Monsjou (Iowa) def. Zirkin/Pavic 9-8 (7-0)2. Setshogo/Lau (DU) def. Holm/Haal (Iowa) 8-33. Bierich/Kauss (Iowa) def. Ballivian/Mendoza 8-2="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>

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