DePaul University Athletics
Saturday, February 22
Corpus Christi, TX
10:00 A.M. CT
DePaul University
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at
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Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
Resounding Finish for 'Band of Brothers'
2/22/2020 2:17:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
DePaul Takes Down Texas A&M Corpus Christi 4-1 in H-E-B finale
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – There are certain moments, tangible high points in a season that a coach can look back upon as defining the path that eventually matrializes for his or her program.
Saturday could well be one of those times for DePaul men's tennis.
As if to signify that Friday night's improbable comeback win over Texas Rio Grande Valley after teetering on the brink of defeat wasn't some one-off fluke, the Blue Demons completed a hugely successful weekend with a 4-1 triumph over host school Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
The Islanders came into Saturday's match with DePaul flaunting a 12-3 record and fresh off 4-0 sweeps of Eastern Washington and New Mexico State on Friday.
But summoning up the same focus and drive that made Friday possible, the Blue Demons (5-8) finished strong in their third match in 24 hours.
It began with securing the doubles point behind wins from the tandems of Boris Spanjaard/Christopher Casati and Vito and Fran Tonejc.
Texas A&M CC won the opening singles match at No. 3 but the "Band of Brothers" came roaring back with three-straight wins and returned home with a 2-1 Tournament of Champions record.
Spanjaard put his team in front 2-1 with a 7-6(5), 6-3 decision over Thomas Rodrigues Lopes at No. 2 singles.
Fran Tonejc put DePaul within a point of clinching the match after a 7-6(10), 6-1 decision over Carlos Berna Ruiz at No. 6.
The clincher came courtesy Fran's younger brother as Vito bounced back from a 0-6 first set to topple William Mottet 6-3, 6-3.
"Huge win today," said DePaul coach Matt Brothers. "Dominated the doubles and never gave up the momentum against a talented home team.
"The guys believed in themselves and each other which is the ultimate strength of our team. We just out-worked TAMUCC today which is always the difference-maker in the third match of a weekend.
"I couldn't be more proud of the fight, professionalism and camaraderie of our guys today."
Another big test awaits Brothers & Co. on Friday when they square off against No. 9 Columbia (5-2) in Evanston. Columbia is coming off wins over No. 12 Baylor and No. 14 South Carolina over the weekend.
H-E-B Tournament of Champions
Corpus Christi, Texas
DePaul 4, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. William Mottet (TAMCC), 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Thomas Rodrigues Lopes (TAMCC), 7-6(5), 6-3
3. Ryuya Ata (TAMCC) def. Christopher Casati (DPU), 6-0, 6-2
4. Kyohei Yamanaka (TAMCC) vs. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU), 4-6. 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
5. Pascal Lorieul (TAMCC) vs. Tripp Tuff (DPU), 6-7, 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
6. Fran Tonejc (DPU) def. Carlos Berna Ruiz (TAMCC), 7-6(10), 6-1
Doubles
1. Christopher Casati/Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. William Mottet/Thomas Rodrigues Lopes (TAMCC), 6-4
2. Ryuya Ata/Kyohei Yamanaka (TAMCC) vs. Tripp Tuff/Luuk Wassenaar (DPU), 4-3, unfinished
3. Fran Tonejc/Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Pascal Lorieul/Carlos Berna Ruiz (TAMCC), 6-2
Saturday could well be one of those times for DePaul men's tennis.
As if to signify that Friday night's improbable comeback win over Texas Rio Grande Valley after teetering on the brink of defeat wasn't some one-off fluke, the Blue Demons completed a hugely successful weekend with a 4-1 triumph over host school Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
The Islanders came into Saturday's match with DePaul flaunting a 12-3 record and fresh off 4-0 sweeps of Eastern Washington and New Mexico State on Friday.
But summoning up the same focus and drive that made Friday possible, the Blue Demons (5-8) finished strong in their third match in 24 hours.
It began with securing the doubles point behind wins from the tandems of Boris Spanjaard/Christopher Casati and Vito and Fran Tonejc.
Texas A&M CC won the opening singles match at No. 3 but the "Band of Brothers" came roaring back with three-straight wins and returned home with a 2-1 Tournament of Champions record.
Spanjaard put his team in front 2-1 with a 7-6(5), 6-3 decision over Thomas Rodrigues Lopes at No. 2 singles.
Fran Tonejc put DePaul within a point of clinching the match after a 7-6(10), 6-1 decision over Carlos Berna Ruiz at No. 6.
The clincher came courtesy Fran's younger brother as Vito bounced back from a 0-6 first set to topple William Mottet 6-3, 6-3.
"Huge win today," said DePaul coach Matt Brothers. "Dominated the doubles and never gave up the momentum against a talented home team.
"The guys believed in themselves and each other which is the ultimate strength of our team. We just out-worked TAMUCC today which is always the difference-maker in the third match of a weekend.
"I couldn't be more proud of the fight, professionalism and camaraderie of our guys today."
Another big test awaits Brothers & Co. on Friday when they square off against No. 9 Columbia (5-2) in Evanston. Columbia is coming off wins over No. 12 Baylor and No. 14 South Carolina over the weekend.
H-E-B Tournament of Champions
Corpus Christi, Texas
DePaul 4, Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. William Mottet (TAMCC), 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Thomas Rodrigues Lopes (TAMCC), 7-6(5), 6-3
3. Ryuya Ata (TAMCC) def. Christopher Casati (DPU), 6-0, 6-2
4. Kyohei Yamanaka (TAMCC) vs. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU), 4-6. 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
5. Pascal Lorieul (TAMCC) vs. Tripp Tuff (DPU), 6-7, 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
6. Fran Tonejc (DPU) def. Carlos Berna Ruiz (TAMCC), 7-6(10), 6-1
Doubles
1. Christopher Casati/Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. William Mottet/Thomas Rodrigues Lopes (TAMCC), 6-4
2. Ryuya Ata/Kyohei Yamanaka (TAMCC) vs. Tripp Tuff/Luuk Wassenaar (DPU), 4-3, unfinished
3. Fran Tonejc/Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Pascal Lorieul/Carlos Berna Ruiz (TAMCC), 6-2
Players Mentioned
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