Casati Pure Clutch in Huge Comeback Win

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – DePaul was on the brink of defeat Friday in its opening match of the H-E-B Tournament of Champions.

The Blue Demons were down 3-0 to Texas Rio Grande Valley when Fran Tonejc at No. 6 singles began the biggest comeback of the season in a 4-3 triumph at the H-E-B Tennis Center.

Coach Matt Brothers and his team had fallen behind after losing the doubles point and the first two singles matches when Tonejc reversed course with a 6-4, 6-3 win over George Hutchings.

After Tonejc triggered the turnaround, Tripp Tuff took it one step further with a 7-6(7), 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles over Alberto Mello.

Now, it is 3-2 and hope springs eternal in the Lone Star State. Luuk Wassenaar did not want to slow this Blue Demon roll and obliged with a gritty 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2 decision over Zane Kohrs at No. 4.

The stage was set. It was deadlocked at 3-3 with everything riding on Christopher Casati at No. 3 singles. With his teammates and coaches gathered around the court, Casati dropped the first set to Te Kani Williams 6-4.

Unbowed, the senior from Deerfield came back strong with a 6-3 decision in the second set.

You knew it would come down to a dramatic third set for all the marbles, and Casati came through big-time with a 6-3 win as DePaul swept the final four singles matches.

The jubilant "Band of Brothers" only had a short time to celebrate as they are back on the court at 4 p.m. for a match against a talented Troy program.

DePaul 4, Texas Rio Grande Valley 3
Singles
1. Izurieta def. V. Tonejc 6-1, 6-3
2. Garcia def. Spanjaard 6-2, 6-3
3. Casati def. Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Wassenaar def. Kohrs 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2
5. Tuff def. Mello 7-6(7), 6-1
6. F. Tonejc def. Hutchings 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Spanjaard/Casati def. Mello/Izurieta 6-2
2. Hutchings/Kohrs def. Tuff/Wassenaar 6-4
3. Garcia/M. Loyd def. V. Tonejc/F. Tonejc 6-3

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Players Mentioned

Christopher Casati

Fran Tonejc

Tripp Tuff

Luuk Wassenaar