DePaul University Athletics
Men's tennis loses to Illni; narrowly falls to Michigan
1/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S TENNIS
Against Illinois, the Illini proved why they are one of the top-ranked schools in the country. They stormed out of the blocks in doubles, handing the Demons losses in all three matches. Having won the doubles point, the Illini carried that same momentum into the singles matches where they defeated the Demons on four courts before the match was called at 5-0 for Illinois. On a positive note, junior Jevgenji Cariov took the first set from nationally-ranked All-American Graydon Oliver before the match was called.
On Sunday against the 28th-ranked Michigan Wolverines, DePaul showed it is capable of playing with the top teams. Despite losing 7-0 the past two years, the Demons put a big scare into Michigan before bowing out 4-3. The Wolverines took doubles wins at #1 and #3, with freshman Sanjay Jeram and junior Jevgenji Cariov coming out victorious at #2 for the Demons. In singles, victories came from Cariov at #1, who defeated 28th-ranked Henry Beam 6-4, 6-3, and juniors Robert Kurek at #3 and Neil Johnston at #6. The match came down to Maciek Jozwiak at #2 singles playing Michigan's Dan McCain. Trailing 6-2, 5-2, McCain staged a miraculous comeback staving off a match point before prevailing in the second set 7-6. McCain carried his second set momentum into the third and went on to win 6-3. The victory clinched the meet for the Wolverines.
"Obviously it hurts to lose such a close match to a great team like Michigan. But at the same time we proved today that we can play with the best teams in the region, and the country for that matter, " said juinor co-captain Neil Johnston. "It's disheartening to lose, but it's encouraging at the same time."
DePaul's next match is this Thursday in a dual meet with Wisconsin. The trip to Madison for the Blue Demons marks the third consecutive Big Ten school it has faced on the road.
Complete results are as follows:
vs. Illinois (1/26)
Singles:
#1 Jevgenji Cariov (DPU) vs. Graydon Oliver (UI) 6-4, 2-4 (dnf)
#2 Philip Stolt (UI) def. Maciek Jozwiak (DPU) 6-2, 6-2
#3 Robert Kurek (DPU) vs. Mike Kosta (UI) 6-2, 3-4 (dnf)
#4 Michael Calkins (UI) def. Andy Michael (DPU) 6-1, 6-1
#5 Nathan Zeder (UI) def. Dan Bennett (DPU) 6-2, 6-1
#6 Jamal Parker (UI) def. Sanjay Jeram (DPU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles:
#1 Oliver/Stolt (UI) def. Cariov/David Pitsch (DPU) 8-4
#2 Parker/Calkins (UI) def. Kurek/Jozwiak (DPU) 8-2
#3 Zeder/Kosta (UI) def. Bennett/Michael (DPU) 8-2
vs. Michigan (1/28)
Singles:
#1-- Jevgenij Cariov (DPU) d. Henry Beam (U-M) 6-4, 6-3
#2 -- Danny McCain (U-M) d. Maciek Jozwiak (DPU) 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-3
#3 -- Robert Kurek (DPU) d. Greg Novak (U-M) 6-3, 6-4
#4 -- Anthony Jackson (U-M) d. Andy Michael (DPU) 6-3, 7-5
#5 -- Chris Shaya (U-M) d. Dan Bennett (DPU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-0
#6 -- Neil Johnston (DPU) d. Brett Baudinet (U-M) 6-0, 7-6(3)
Doubles:
#1 -- Beam/Shaya (U-M) Kurek/Jozwiak (DPU) 8-5
#2 -- Cariov/Jeram (DU) d. McCain/Novak (U-M) 9-7
#3 -- Jackson/Baudinet (U-M) d. Bennett/Michael (DPU) 8-5
