DAYTON, Ohio – Northern Kentucky's men's tennis team had a strong showing in doubles but was ultimately overcome by St. Francis (Pa.) in singles action on Saturday afternoon, dropping the season opener to the Red Flash, 5-2. With the setback, NKU starts the season at 0-1 while St. Francis holds a 1-0 record.
Match Notables
- The Norse took the opening point thanks to a pair of wins in doubles. In No. 3 doubles, Nick Lang and Andrew Niehaus handily defeated Franz Luna and Rob van der Heijden with only one game surrendered, 6-1. Mate Virag and Lukas Clemens sealed the doubles point by recording a 6-4 win over Alec Foo-Kune and Rodrigo Tico.
- Virag was the only Norse to record a win in singles, going up against Foo-Kune in No. 1 singles. St. Francis' top player took the opening set, 4-6, but Virag retaliated by with a dominant 6-0 blanking in the second set. The tiebreak went extra games, with Virag emerging victorious in a 7-5 decision.
- The rest of the Norse lineup fell in straight sets to their opponents, with the most competitive being the match on the No. 4 singles court. Court Clark barely fell to Arturo Dell'Eva in the opening set, 7-6, and went on to have another tight set in the second, 6-4.
- One member of the team made his championship season debut. Niehaus picked up the win in doubles with Lang and went on to play in the No. 2 singles slot, falling to Franz Luna, 6-3, 6-1.
- The Norse host Abilene Christian on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Five Seasons Sports Club. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will begin following the women's match versus Dayton.
For more information on NKU's men's and women's tennis program, follow the team on Twitter @NKUNorseTennis or at facebook.com/nkunorsetennis.
Agate
St. Francis (Pa.) 5, NKU 2
Singles (Order of Finish: 3,5,6,4*,2,1)
1.
Mate Virag (NKU) def. Alex Foo-Kune (SFU) 4-6, 6-0, 7-5
2. Franz Luna (SFU) def.
Andrew Niehaus (NKU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Rodrigo Tico (SFU) def.
Adrian Isache (NKU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Arturo Dell'Eva (SFU) def.
Court Clark (NKU) 7-6, 6-4
5. Plamen Avuski (SFU) def.
Blaine Carr (NKU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Jan Vit Suntar (SFU) def.
Nick Lang (NKU) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 3,2,1*)
1.
Mate Virag/
Lukas Clemens (NKU) def. Alec Foo-Kune/Rodridgo Tico (SFU) 6-4
2. Jan Vit Suntar/Arturo Dell'Eva (SFU) def.
Court Clark/
Adrian Isache (NKU) 6-3
3.
Nick Lang/
Andrew Niehaus (NKU) def. Franz Luna/Rob van der Heijden (SFU) 6-1
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