University of Washington
Stanford
No. 9 Cardinal Edge Huskies, 4-3
April 08, 2011 | Men's Tennis
April 8, 2011
SEATTLE - Washington split the singles matches against ninth-ranked Stanford today but the Cardinal's earlier doubles point win proved to be the difference as Stanford (13-5, 3-1 Pac-10) claimed a 4-3 victory today at Bill Quillian Stadium. The 22nd-ranked Huskies were led by sophomore Kyle McMorrow's straight set upset of 32nd-ranked Ryan Thacher at No. 2 singles.
The Huskies (14-8, 1-3 Pac-10) dropped their fourth match in a row, but all have come against Top-20 opponents, and today was the best showing in that stretch. After taking a 1-0 lead via the doubles point, Stanford took the No. 1 singles match when defending NCAA Singles Champion Bradley Klahn overcame senior Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, 6-4, 6-2.
Washington then got on the board thanks to McMorrow, who snapped a three-match skid with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Thacher at second singles. At No. 32, Thacher is the highest-ranked opponent McMorrow has defeated this season, and his sixth ranked win of the year.
Stanford was able to close out the match at third and fourth singles. 60th-ranked Alex Clayton took down 85th-ranked senior Martin Kildahl, 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot. Denis Lin then served out his No. 4 match against freshman Daniel Schmidt, 6-3, 6-4 to make it 4-1 Cardinal.
The Huskies were leading on the two remaining courts and proceeded to buckle down and finish out the victories. Sophomore Marton Bots stopped Matt Kandath 7-6 (3), 6-3 at sixth singles, and then senior Tobi Obenaus outlasted Stanford's Greg Hirshman, 6-2, 7-6 (6) at fifth singles to settle things at 4-3.
The doubles point was looking good for the Dawgs right up until the end when Stanford made a break for the finish at the No. 2 spot. Bots and Schmidt improved to 3-1 in Pac-10 play at No. 3 doubles with a very strong 8-3 win over 67th-ranked Clayton and Ted Kelly. Stanford then leveled it with an 8-4 win at first doubles, where fourth-ranked Klahn and Thacher defeated 31st-ranked Nedunchezhiyan and McMorrow. At second doubles, Kildahl and Obenaus had a 6-5 lead over Lin and Kandath, but the Cardinal duo held serve, then broke in the next game after UW held a couple game points. Stanford then served it out for an 8-6 win to clinch the point.
Washington will have yet another Top-10 match on its hands tomorrow, as 10th-ranked California pays a visit at 1 p.m.
Washington Men's Tennis
April 8, 2011 - Seattle, Wash.
Bill Quillian Courts
No. 9 Stanford 4, No. 22 Washington 3
Doubles
2) Lin/Kandath (Stan) def. (69) Kildahl/Obenaus (UW), 8-6
3) Bots/Schmidt (UW) def. (67) Kelly/Clayton (Stan), 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1) (11) Bradley Klahn (Stan) def. (74) Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW), 6-4, 6-2
2) (68) Kyle McMorrow (UW) def. (32) Ryan Thacher (Stan), 6-3, 6-4
3) (60) Alex Clayton (Stan) def. (85) Martin Kildahl (UW), 6-4, 6-3
4) Denis Lin (Stan) def. Daniel Schmidt (UW), 6-3, 6-4
5) Tobi Obenaus (UW) def. Greg Hirshman (Stan), 6-2, 7-6 (6)
6) Marton Bots (UW) def. Matt Kandath (Stan), 7-6 (3), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 5
Players Mentioned
