April 22, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s tennis team fell short against No. 71 Wisconsin inside the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center on Friday. The Badgers (11-11 overall, 5-4 in Big Ten) topped No. 66 Iowa (8-11, 2-7) 5-2.
The Badgers earned the doubles point, and held on to prevent a home victory for the Hawkeyes. Nine of Iowa’s 11 losses this season have come from teams that were ranked at the time. Senior Nikita Zotov and junior Will Vasos paced the Hawkeyes in singles with a victory, while sophomore Garret Dunn and junior Tom Mroziewicz led Iowa in doubles.
“This was another close match where we played pretty well, just not on the big points in either singles or doubles,” said head coach Steve Houghton. “I’m impressed with Will for moving up to No. 2 in the lineup and still winning. He deserves credit for that.”
After Wisconsin opened a 2-0 lead, it was Vasos that came to the answer for the Hawkeyes to cut the Badger lead in half in No. 2 singles. Vasos defeated Billy Bertha 6-3, 6-4. Vasos has a team high 13 dual victories, as well as five wins in Big Ten play.
Zotov secured Iowa’s other point, coming in the final match of the night. Zotov defeated Ricardo Martin 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in No. 5 singles. It was the sixth dual singles victory of the season for Zotov.
Fellow senior Austen Kauss nearly rallied to a victory in No. 3 singles after coming back to win the second set. Wisconsin’s Petr Satral would take the match, however, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
Dunn forced extra games in his No. 4 singles match against Fredrik Ask. It wouldn’t be enough, as Ask took the match 6-2, 7-6.
Freshman Jonas Dierckx also forced extra games against Rod Carey, but couldn’t pull through in a tough No. 6 singles match. Dierckx fell in a competitive first set 7-5, and couldn’t force a third set with a 6-2 setback in the second.
Senior Marek Michalicka, ranked No. 55 in the nation, bested Iowa’s Marc Bruche 6-3, 6-4 in No. 1 singles in the first singles decision of the match.
Mroziewicz and Dunn started things off on the right foot for Iowa in doubles. They made quick work out of their No. 3 doubles match to give the Hawkeyes the early advantage in doubles. The duo cruised to an 8-3 victory against Wisconsin’s Martin and Alexander Teppert. Dunn and Mroziewicz have a 7-4 record this season.
Iowa fell in No. 1 doubles, as Wisconsin’s Michalicka and Bertha edged out Bruche and Vasos 8-3 to knot up the doubles score at one match a piece.
Kauss and Dierckx battled back in their No. 2 doubles match to tie it at 5-5, but Carey and Ask prevailed for Wisconsin in an 8-5 final to give the Badgers the 1-0 team lead after doubles.
The Hawkeyes will be in action again on Sunday inside at the HTRC. Iowa will face No. 27 Minnesota (15-4, 6-2) at noon. It will be the final regular season match of the season, as well as Iowa’s Senior Day. The Hawkeyes will honor seniors Austen Kauss and Nikita Zotov. Start time is at noon.
No. 71 Wisconsin 5,No. 66 Iowa 2
SinglesMarek Michalicka (UW) def. Marc Bruche (IOWA) 6-3, 6-4Will Vasos (IOWA) def. Billy Bertha (UW) 6-3, 6-4Petr Satral (UW) def. Austen Kauss (IOWA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2Fredrik Ask (UW) def. Garret Dunn (IOWA) 6-2, 7-6Nikita Zotov (IOWA) def. Ricardo Martin (UW) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4Rod Carey (UW) def. Jonas Dierckx (IOWA) 7-5, 6-2
DoublesMichalicka/Bertha (UW) def. Bruche/Vasos (IOWA) 8-3Carey/Ask (UW) def. Kauss/Jonas Dierckx (IOWA) 8-5Dunn/Tom Mroziewicz (IOWA) def. Martin/Alexander Teppert (UW) 8-3="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>