University of Washington
Vanderbilt
McMorrow, Schmidt Bright Spots In Loss To Vanderbilt
February 12, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 12, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - It was tough sledding today for the Husky men's tennis team against a 44th-ranked Vanderbilt squad that came in primed for a chance at an upset. 23rd-ranked Washington, having lost a long 4-3 decision yesterday to 22nd-ranked Michigan, was unable to fend off the Commodores in a number of close singles matches. Sophomore Kyle McMorrow did extend his winning streak to 12-straight in the defeat, while freshman Daniel Schmidt earned his first collegiate win.
The Commodores improved to 5-1 on the year while UW falls to 6-2 as it heads home to host the ITA National Team Indoor Championships next weekend at the Nordstrom Tennis Center and Seattle Tennis Club. The Huskies will look to implement the hard lessons learned this week, plus rely on some big Husky fan support, to challenge the nation's best for several days in a row, beginning next Friday. The draw will be released early this coming week.
Vanderbilt put the Dawgs in a hole after a doubles point sweep that easily could have gone the other way. Vanderbilt grabbed the final two games at No. 3 doubles for a 9-7 win over Marton Bots and Brad Bator to clinch the point. Had that match gone the other way, Martin Kildahl and Tobi Obenaus were locked in a battle at second doubles, but as it was, the match went to a tiebreak early and Vandy's Jones and Zotov took it, eight points to six.
Every singles match was seemingly decided by a single break in each set, but more went to the Commodores. 43rd-ranked Ryan Lipman held off Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, 6-3, 7-6 (4) at No. 1 singles. Bryant Salcedo then topped senior Tobi Obenaus, 6-4, 7-5, at the No. 5 spot. The clinching point came at No. 6, where Vanderbilt's Alex Zoltov rallied from a set down to overcome sophomore Marton Bots, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 6.
Despite the outcome having been decided, McMorrow gathered himself and finished off a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4 win over Adam Baker at second singles. The sophomore and reigning Pac-10 Fresman of the Year is now 8-0 at second singles this year and has won 12-straight going back to the fall. The second set loss was his first of the year but the Thousand Oaks, Calif. native responded well in the third.
Also great to see for UW was the first time in the win column for freshman Daniel Schmidt. The Austrian native just became eligible last week and after a slow start against some very tough opposition, Schmidt broke through for a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles against Blake Bazarnik to make the final score 5-2 in Vanderbilt's favor.
Washington Men's Tennis
Seattle, Wash. - Varsity Tennis Center
February 12, 2011
No. 44 Vanderbilt 5, No. 23 Washington 2
Doubles
1) Baker/Lipman (Vandy) d. (30) McMorrow/Nedunchezhiyan (UW) - 8-4
2) Jones/Zotov (Vandy) d. (33) Kildahl/Obenaus (UW) - 8-7 (6)
3) Salcedo/DiValerio (Vandy) d. Bots/Bator (UW) - 9-7
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1) Ryan Lipman (Vandy) d. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) - 6-3, 7-6 (4)
2) Kyle McMorrow (UW) d. Adam Baker (Vandy) - 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4
3) Charlie Jones (Vandy) d. Martin Kildahl (UW) - 7-6 (4), 6-3
4) Daniel Schmidt (UW) d. Blake Bazarnik (Vandy) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5) Bryant Salcedo (Vandy) d. Tobi Obenaus (UW) - 6-4, 7-5
6) Alex Zotov (Vandy) d. Marton Bots (UW) - 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 5, 6, 3, 2, 4
Players Mentioned
