DePaul University Athletics
Friday, April 22
Cayce, S.C.
8:00 A.M. CT
DePaul University
4
vs
1
Creighton
Strong Singles Showing Sweeps DePaul into BIG EAST Semifinals
4/22/2022 12:30:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
Matteo Iaquinto notches clincher in 4-1 quarterfinal win over Creighton on Friday
CAYCE, S.C. – Despite an early stumble, No. 2 seed DePaul came roaring back with an emphatic finish Friday in the BIG EAST Men's Tennis Championship Quarterfinals.
No. 7 seed Creighton (8-10) won the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, but the Blue Demons won four in a row in the singles round for the 4-1 victory.
Coach Matt Brothers and his defending BIG EAST champion advance to Saturday's semifinals to face No. 3 Xavier (12-8) at 9 a.m. (ET) at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The Musketeers defeated No. 6 Marquette 4-2 in their quarterfinal test.
No. 1 singles standout and reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year Vito Tonejc initiated the winning surge with a 6-1, 6-0 straight-setter over the Bluejays' Casey Ross. Tonejc is now 19-3 in the dual season and 27-9 overall.
Tripp Tuff followed Tonejc's lead with a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Ethan Neil at No. 6 singles. Tonejc's freshman doubles partner Marino Jakic put his team on the brink of celebration after downing Stratton Brown 6-2, 7-5 at No. 2.
The clincher came courtesy of freshman Matteo Iaquinto competing in his very first BIG EAST Championship after a 7-6(1), 6-1 triumph over Matthew Lanahan at No. 5 singles.
Iaquinto improved his overall record to 22-12 including 12-8 in the dual season.
"Composed, gritty win," is how Brothers described Friday's action in the 80-degree South Carolina weather.
DePaul (11-12) now turns its focus to Xavier whom the "Band of Brothers" knocked off 6-1 in the regular-season finale last Saturday at XS Tennis Village.
In that match six days ago, the Blue Demons won the doubles point and tacked on singles wins from Tonejc, Jakic, Wassenaar, Iaquinto and Tuff.
BIG EAST Quarterfinals
DePaul 4, Creighton 1
April 22, 2022
(Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center)
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Casey Ross (CU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Marino Jakic (DPU) def. Stratton Brown (CU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Leon Huck (DPU) vs. Shin Inoue (CU) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
4. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) vs. Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
5. Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) def. Matthew Lanahan (CU) 7-6 (1-0), 6-1
6. Tripp Tuff (DPU) def. Ethan Neil (CU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Vito Tonejc/Marino Jakic (DPU) def. Casey Ross/Matthew Lanahan (CU) 6-3
2. Shin Inoue/Zack Maline (CU) def. Leon Huck/Jona Gitschel (DPU) 7-5
3. Stratton Brown/Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) def. Tripp Tuff/Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) 6-3
Match Notes:
#7 Creighton 8-10
#2 DePaul 11-12
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,6,2,5)
No. 7 seed Creighton (8-10) won the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, but the Blue Demons won four in a row in the singles round for the 4-1 victory.
Coach Matt Brothers and his defending BIG EAST champion advance to Saturday's semifinals to face No. 3 Xavier (12-8) at 9 a.m. (ET) at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center. The Musketeers defeated No. 6 Marquette 4-2 in their quarterfinal test.
No. 1 singles standout and reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year Vito Tonejc initiated the winning surge with a 6-1, 6-0 straight-setter over the Bluejays' Casey Ross. Tonejc is now 19-3 in the dual season and 27-9 overall.
Tripp Tuff followed Tonejc's lead with a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Ethan Neil at No. 6 singles. Tonejc's freshman doubles partner Marino Jakic put his team on the brink of celebration after downing Stratton Brown 6-2, 7-5 at No. 2.
The clincher came courtesy of freshman Matteo Iaquinto competing in his very first BIG EAST Championship after a 7-6(1), 6-1 triumph over Matthew Lanahan at No. 5 singles.
Iaquinto improved his overall record to 22-12 including 12-8 in the dual season.
"Composed, gritty win," is how Brothers described Friday's action in the 80-degree South Carolina weather.
DePaul (11-12) now turns its focus to Xavier whom the "Band of Brothers" knocked off 6-1 in the regular-season finale last Saturday at XS Tennis Village.
In that match six days ago, the Blue Demons won the doubles point and tacked on singles wins from Tonejc, Jakic, Wassenaar, Iaquinto and Tuff.
BIG EAST Quarterfinals
DePaul 4, Creighton 1
April 22, 2022
(Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center)
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Casey Ross (CU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Marino Jakic (DPU) def. Stratton Brown (CU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Leon Huck (DPU) vs. Shin Inoue (CU) 4-6, 6-4, unfinished
4. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) vs. Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
5. Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) def. Matthew Lanahan (CU) 7-6 (1-0), 6-1
6. Tripp Tuff (DPU) def. Ethan Neil (CU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Vito Tonejc/Marino Jakic (DPU) def. Casey Ross/Matthew Lanahan (CU) 6-3
2. Shin Inoue/Zack Maline (CU) def. Leon Huck/Jona Gitschel (DPU) 7-5
3. Stratton Brown/Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) def. Tripp Tuff/Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) 6-3
Match Notes:
#7 Creighton 8-10
#2 DePaul 11-12
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,6,2,5)
Players Mentioned
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