University of Washington
Gonzaga
Huskies Sweep Gonzaga In Season Opener
January 14, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 14, 2011
» Men's Tennis 2011 Season Preview
SEATTLE - The first serve of the 2011 season is in the books for the Husky men's tennis team, as 26th-ranked Washington rolled to a 7-0 sweep of Gonzaga this evening at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The Huskies (1-0) will be aiming towards a 17th-straight NCAA tournament appearance down the line, and tonight was the first of a minimum of 19 home matches for the experienced squad.
"We're happy to get the first match under our belts," said 17th-year head coach Matt Anger. "I think things got going in singles, guys got comfortable on the courts, and were able to hit out on the ball a little better and move better."
Anger's outlook for this year's team is very bright. "When I'm watching our guys, I see a lot of potential," he says. "I really think we can start putting things together. We're not there yet, but I think we can be very good."
After sweeping the doubles point, Washington came out playing clean in singles. In all six first sets, the Huskies lost just a combined two games. Sophomore Kyle McMorrow, ranked 81st, raced to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Kevin Eischen for the first point at No. 2 singles. Senior Tobi Obenaus was close behind, with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Zhia Hwa Chong at No. 4 singles.
Senior Brad Bator, who took the fall season off, got the clinching point in his first match of the year, defeating Jake Davis, 6-0, 6-1 at fifth singles. At No. 1 singles, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan completed a flawless evening with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Levin Guillermo. Nedunchezhiyan did not drop a game in singles or doubles today.
Freshman Max Manthou, winner of four-straight Washington State singles titles, started his first match for the Huskies at No. 6 singles today against Muzeen Ismath. Manthou rolled to a 6-1 win in the first set, then after falling behind 3-2 in the second, took the final four games for the 6-3 win. That left senior Martin Kildahl, ranked 83rd nationally, against Scott Sullivan at No. 3 singles.
After the tiniest of slow starts in doubles play to kick off the match, the Huskies got rolling. At No. 2 doubles, Kildahl and Obenaus, ranked 33rd nationally, were broken in the first game, but then won eight straight to defeat Eischen and Mosquera. At the No. 3 spot, Bator and junior Matt Stith were tied at 3-3 with Davis and Ismath, then broke away with five straight games for the 8-3 win. And after a lengthy first game with several deuces, 31st-ranked McMorrow and Nedunchezhiyan cruised to an 8-0 victory.
Washington will return to the court next Friday, Jan. 21, against Pacific, with a 5 p.m. start time again at the Nordstrom.
Washington Men's Tennis
January 14, 2011 - Seattle, Wash.
Nordstrom Tennis Center
No. 26 Washington 7; Gonzaga 0
Doubles
2) (33) Kildahl/Obenaus (UW) def. Eischen/Mosquera (GU), 8-1
3) Bator/Stith (UW) def. Davis/Ismath (GU), 8-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1) (92) Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) def. Levin Guillermo (GU), 6-0, 6-0
2) (81) Kyle McMorrow (UW) def. Kevin Eischen (GU), 6-0, 6-1
3) (83) Martin Kildahl (UW) def. Scott Sullivan (GU), 6-1, 6-3
4) Tobi Obenaus (UW) def. Zhia Hwa Chong (GU), 6-0, 6-0
5) Brad Bator (UW) def. Jake Davis (GU), 6-0, 6-1
6) Max Manthou (UW) def. Muzeen Ismath (GU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 6, 3
Players Mentioned
