Friday, May 3
Lexington, Ky.
3:00 P.M. CT
DePaul University
0
at
4
Kentucky
Blue Demons Fall in NCAA Championship Round of 64
5/3/2024 7:40:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
DePaul drops match to No. 5 Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. – DePaul men's tennis fell to No. 5 Kentucky in the First Round of the NCAA Championships on Friday evening, closing its 2024 season.
The Blue Demons (14-10) entered the bout on Friday following its dominant BIG EAST title victory against St. John's on Monday, April 22, in Cayce, S.C.
Despite a valiant effort against the three-time SEC Champion Kentucky Wildcats, DePaul eventually fell in a 4-0 decision.
Senior Shourya Verma and junior Jona Gitschel surged ahead with a 4-3 lead, up 40-15, at the No. 1 doubles position against the No. 4 ranked doubles team in the nation. The match ultimately went unfinished after the Blue Demons fell at No. 2 and No. 3.
Kentucky (25-2), boasting two top-80 players in No. 28 Taha Baadi and No. 80 Joshua Lapadat, continued its performance into singles, securing five of six first sets.
At No. 1, Vito Tonejc won his first set in a hard-fought 7-6(5) tiebreaker battle against Taha Baadi.
While Tonejc held a 3-1 second-set lead, the Blue Demons could not pick up enough momentum to overtake the No. 5 Wildcats.
Kentucky clinched the win with three straight-set victories, taking the NCAA Championship opener in a 4-0 decision.
Despite falling in the match, DePaul closed its season with a 14-10 record, adding its third BIG EAST Championship in four seasons.
The triumphant season further cemented DePaul as a collegiate tennis powerhouse and a symbol of pride and excellence for DePaul University and the city of Chicago.
NCAA Regional Championships
Final Results
Kentucky 4, DePaul 0
May 3, 2024
Boone Tennis Complex
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. #28 Taha Baadi (UK) vs. Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-7(5), 1-3, uf.
2. #80 Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. Leon Huck (DPU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Jaden Weekes (UK) vs. Shourya Verma (DPU) 6-3, 3-3, uf.
4. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Jack Loutit (UK) def. Pablo Torres Almeida (DPU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Eli Stephenson (UK) vs. Sven Moser (DPU) 6-3, 5-3, uf.
Doubles
1. #4 Joshua Lapadat/JJ Mercer (UK) vs. Shourya Verma/Jona Gitschel (DPU) 4-4, uf.
2. Taha Baadi/Jack Loutit (UK) def. Leon Huck/Sven Moser (DPU) 6-2
3. Eli Stephenson/Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Pablo Torres Almeida/Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-4
Notes
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3, Singles 5-4-2
DePaul 14-10
#5 Kentucky 25-2
The Blue Demons (14-10) entered the bout on Friday following its dominant BIG EAST title victory against St. John's on Monday, April 22, in Cayce, S.C.
Despite a valiant effort against the three-time SEC Champion Kentucky Wildcats, DePaul eventually fell in a 4-0 decision.
Senior Shourya Verma and junior Jona Gitschel surged ahead with a 4-3 lead, up 40-15, at the No. 1 doubles position against the No. 4 ranked doubles team in the nation. The match ultimately went unfinished after the Blue Demons fell at No. 2 and No. 3.
Kentucky (25-2), boasting two top-80 players in No. 28 Taha Baadi and No. 80 Joshua Lapadat, continued its performance into singles, securing five of six first sets.
At No. 1, Vito Tonejc won his first set in a hard-fought 7-6(5) tiebreaker battle against Taha Baadi.
While Tonejc held a 3-1 second-set lead, the Blue Demons could not pick up enough momentum to overtake the No. 5 Wildcats.
Kentucky clinched the win with three straight-set victories, taking the NCAA Championship opener in a 4-0 decision.
Despite falling in the match, DePaul closed its season with a 14-10 record, adding its third BIG EAST Championship in four seasons.
The triumphant season further cemented DePaul as a collegiate tennis powerhouse and a symbol of pride and excellence for DePaul University and the city of Chicago.
NCAA Regional Championships
Final Results
Kentucky 4, DePaul 0
May 3, 2024
Boone Tennis Complex
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. #28 Taha Baadi (UK) vs. Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-7(5), 1-3, uf.
2. #80 Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. Leon Huck (DPU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Jaden Weekes (UK) vs. Shourya Verma (DPU) 6-3, 3-3, uf.
4. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Jack Loutit (UK) def. Pablo Torres Almeida (DPU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Eli Stephenson (UK) vs. Sven Moser (DPU) 6-3, 5-3, uf.
Doubles
1. #4 Joshua Lapadat/JJ Mercer (UK) vs. Shourya Verma/Jona Gitschel (DPU) 4-4, uf.
2. Taha Baadi/Jack Loutit (UK) def. Leon Huck/Sven Moser (DPU) 6-2
3. Eli Stephenson/Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Pablo Torres Almeida/Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-4
Notes
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3, Singles 5-4-2
DePaul 14-10
#5 Kentucky 25-2
Players Mentioned
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