University of Washington
Boise State
Huskies On Point In 5-2 Win Over #43 Broncos
January 23, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 23, 2011
SEATTLE - For the third match in a row, the 26th-ranked Husky men's tennis team faced a raised level of opposition, and once again the Huskies themselves took their play up a notch to counter. Washington (3-0) handled its first ranked opponent this season, defeating 43rd-ranked Boise State, 5-2, at the Nordstrom Tennis Center.
"Right down the line we were tough, and on top of them from the beginning there. I think it's a good sign, and I think there's also that sign of more good things to come," said Head Coach Matt Anger. "Without a doubt we're better now having played the matches through the weekend. We've kind of been stair stepping our way up, and that should make us more ready for opponents down the road."
Senior Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan continued his excellent early-season play, providing the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 62nd-ranked Damian Hume at the No. 1 singles match. Nedunchezhiyan had not lost a game in his first two matches, yet today's win was much more impressive given his opponent's solid ranking.
Sophomore Kyle McMorrow, the 2010 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, earned another ranked win, dispatching 85th-ranked Filipp Pogostkin, 6-0, 6-1 at second singles. McMorrow took the first six games, then dropped game one of the second set, before bouncing back with another six straight.
After McMorrow's win put UW on top, 2-0, sophomore Marton Bots finished up an impressive encore performance from his dramatic college debut on Friday. Bots looked markedly sharper in his second outing, taking out Nathan Sereke, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 5 singles to put UW a win away. After Nedunchezhiyan clinched it, 83rd-ranked senior Martin Kildahl posted a 6-3, 6-2 win just a minute later over Scott Sears at the three spot.
Jeff Mullen overcame senior Tobi Obenaus, 7-6 (1), 6-2 at No. 4 singles for Boise State's first point. And in the last match, senior Brad Bator had numerous match points, nine in total, in a third set super-tiebreak, but Boise State's Andy Bettles saved each one, and turned the tide for an improbable 17-15 tiebreak win.
The doubles point brought the first major drama to the Nordstrom this season, as both teams showed a ton of energy, knowing the early point could prove critical. 30th-ranked McMorrow and Nedunchezhiyan broke away from Hume and Sears in the No. 1 match to take a 7-3 lead. They served it out on their second attempt for an 8-5 win. But Boise State evened things up with an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles from Bettles and Pogostkin over Bots and Bator.
Moments after BSU won the No. 3 match, Kildahl and Obenaus were attempting to close out their No. 2 doubles match with Mullen and Sereke. The Dawgs had broken at 5-all, and fought off break points for a 7-5 lead. Serving up 7-6, the Broncos saved two match points to get to deuce. Kildahl got a big first serve to earn a third match point, and some clutch volleys led to Obenaus blocking the last one off the court for the win, 8-6.
The Huskies will be back on court next Saturday, Jan. 29, to face Cal Poly with a 2 p.m. start time.
Washington Men's Tennis
Nordstrom Tennis Center - Seattle, Wash.
January 23, 2011
No. 26 Washington 5; No. 43 Boise State 2
Doubles
1) (30) McMorrow/Nedunchezhiyan (UW) def. Hume/Sears (BSU), 8-5
2) (33) Kildahl/Obenaus (UW) def. Mullen/Sereke (BSU), 8-6
3) Bettles/Pogostkin (BSU) def. Bots/Bator (UW), 8-5
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1) (92) Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) def. (62) Damian Hume (BSU), 6-2, 6-3
2) (81) Kyle McMorrow (UW) def. (85) Filipp Pogostkin (BSU), 6-0, 6-1
3) (83) Martin Kildahl (UW) def. Scott Sears (BSU), 6-3, 6-2
4) Jeff Mullen (BSU) def. Tobi Obenaus (UW), 7-6 (1), 6-2
5) Marton Bots (UW) def. Nathan Sereke (BSU), 6-3, 6-4
6) Andy Bettles (BSU) def. Brad Bator (UW), 6-2, 6-7 (3), (17-15)
Order of finish: 2, 5, 1, 3, 4, 6
Players Mentioned
