March 21, 2010
MADISON, Wis. – The No. 34 Wisconsin Badgers came out with a vengeance against No. 11 Illinois but the match slipped away suffering a 4-3 loss. Although Wisconsin’s home undefeated streak was snapped, junior Marek Michalicka improved his undefeated mark to 11-0.
With the match at 3-2 in favor of Illinois, it came down to Moritz Baumann at the No. 2 position and Patrick Pohlmann playing at the No. 3 spot to pull out the victory.
Pohlmann went down to the third set tiebreak while Baumann tried to erase a 4-3 deficit. After winning the first set, Baumann tried to put the match away in the second, but ended up losing in a 7-3 tiebreak.
No. 64 Marek Czerwinski took Baumann to a third set where he took out the No. 11-ranked Badger clinching the win for Illinois.
With the match decided, Pohlmann did not give up in an intense three-set match against No. 77 Abe Souza that went the distance in the third set. With the crowd on his side, Pohlmann ended the day with a sweet victory for the Badgers, erasing a three point deficit in the tiebreak to upset Souza, 7-5.
Wisconsin won four of six first sets to set the tone early, however couldn’t finish coming away with only two singles wins.
“It’s really disappointing we didn’t close out matches,” said head coach Greg Van Emburgh. “Hats off to them (Illinois), they played a good match. They found ways to dig a little deeper in the third sets and get the wins.”
The No. 25 ranked Michalicka had the first singles win of the day defeating No. 36 Dennis Nevolo in a 6-2, 7-5 match at the No. 1 position.
“I felt that it was probably the best match so far that I have played this season,” said Michalicka. “I couldn’t believe how I played.”
Despite their valiant efforts, Luke Rassow-Kantor, Billy Bertha and Michael Dierberger all suffered losses for Wisconsin. Bertha and Dierberger’s matches were both drawn out to three sets.
The Badgers started the match by stealing the doubles point from the Illini. Dierberger and Rassow-Kantor won in a close 9-7 match against Souza and Connor Roth of Illinois to give Wisconsin its first doubles win.
No. 11-ranked Baumann and Michalicka returned back at the No. 1 position to take out Czerwinski and Stephen Hoh, 8-4 to clinch the doubles point.
The game, which was carried by the Big Ten Network, was the first-ever men’s tennis match to air live on the Big Ten Network.
“To be able to have the Big Ten Network come in here and showcase a Big Ten match and our program was awesome,” said Van Emburgh.
Wisconsin now 10-5 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten return to action at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Friday, March 26 at 1 p.m.
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By Megan S. Kelley
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
Tennis Match Results
Illinois vs Wisconsin
Mar 21, 2010 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium
(Madison, Wis.)
#34 Wisconsin 3, #11 Illinois 4
Singles competition
1. #25 Marek Michalicka (WIS) def. #36 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) 6-2, 7-5
2. #64 Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. #13 Moritz Baumann (WIS) 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3
3. #116 Patrick Pohlmann (WIS) def. #77 Abe Souza (ILL) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5)
4. Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. Luke Rassow-Kantor (WIS) 6-4, 6-1
5. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Billy Betha (WIS) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
6. Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Michael Dierberger (WIS) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #11 Baumann/Michalicka (WIS) def. #68 Czerwinski/Hoh (ILL) 8-4
2. Dierberger/Rassow-Kantor (WIS) def. Souza/Roth (ILL) 9-7
3. Nevolo/Abdelnour (ILL) def. Freeman/Pohlmann (WIS) 8-5
Order of finish:
Doubles: 2, 1, 3
Singles: 1, 4, 5, 6, 2, 3
