Sept. 19, 2010
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Iowa men’s tennis team concluded its first invitational of the fall season in West Lafayette at the Purdue Fall Invitational. A pair of veterans led Iowa in the team’s first action, surviving to play on the final day.
“We had some good individual performances. Overall, the fact that we only had three practices before this probably hurt us,” said Iowa head coach Steve Houghton. “I’m happy we had four freshmen get the chance to play in their very first event.”
No. 1 singles player junior Marc Bruche opened the tournament with three consecutive singles victories to reach the Flight A singles main draw semifinals. Bruche faced Western Michigan’s Simon Blomberg, as Bruche was knocked off in a tough match, 7-6, (7-5), 6-4. Bruche opened the tournament with a 6-1, 6-4 victory Friday, and won two contest Saturday by 6-1, 6-4 and 6-2, 6-2 margins to reach the semifinals.
Senior Austen Kauss was the other Hawkeye battling it out in the final day. After dropping the first match of the tournament, Kauss responded with three consecutive victories to reach the Flight A consolation finals.
In the semifinals, Kauss defeated Erik Finkerbrink of Dayton by a 6-3, 7-5 count to advance. Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Paul Swanson edged out Kauss in the finals, posting a 6-1, 6-1 advantage.
Freshman Michael Swank reached the quarterfinals in the Flight C singles main draw. Swank defeated Dayton’s Phil Dresden (6-0, 6-3) and Western Michigan’s Mike Basha (7-5, 6-2) to open the tournament.
The Hawkeyes were up against competition from Arkansas, Case Western, DePaul, Dayton, Morehead State, Notre Dame, Purdue, Southern Illinois, UW-Green Bay, Valparaiso, Vincennes and Western Michigan.
The Hawkeyes will take a week off before heading to the ITA All-America Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next weekend.
Flight A Singles Main Draw – Semifinals
Simon Blomberg (MSU) def. Marc Bruche (Iowa) 7-6, (7-5), 6-4
Flight A Singles Consolation – Semifinals
Austen Kauss (Iowa) def. Erik Finkerbrink (Dayton) 6-3, 7-5
Flight A Singles Consolation – Finals
Paul Swanson (UWGB) def. Austen Kauss (Iowa) 6-1, 6-1