CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.– Northern Kentucky men's tennis fell to cross-river foe Xavier in a tight home opener Friday evening, 4-3. The Norse drop to 0-2 on the season while Xavier improves to 1-2.
Match Notables
- Xavier claimed the opening point with wins in No. 1 and 3 doubles.
- Andrew Niehaus and Emilien Burnel led Xavier's Jan Vrba and Michael Lee 2-1 early in the match and never lost the lead. The Norse duo defeated the Musketeers, 6-3, giving NKU its only doubles win of the evening.
- Nathan Schwartz and Anthony Bosch played a tight doubles match against Xavier's Matthew Graft and Shashank Reddy. With multiple lead changes, the advantage was never greater than one. Xavier eventually pulled away in the extended set, 7-6(3).
- NKU got wins out of No. 3, 4 and 5 singles. In the No. 3 spot, Niehaus defeated Matthew Graft in two quick sets, 6-2, 6-2. Jorge Rodriguez Agudo routed Vrba in the first and third sets of No. 4 singles, 6-1 with a 6-4 setback in the second set. Brandon Ponomarew recorded the final point for the Norse, beating Xavier's Aaron Thompson in three sets, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4.
- The Musketeers' three points in No. 1, 2, and 6 singles sealed the win. Both Schwartz and Burnel went three sets against their opponents, with Schwartz falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to Brett Winters in the top flight while Burnel dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 decision to Srdan Pejic on the second court.
The Norse will take a week off before returning home next Friday, taking on Lipscomb at 7 p.m.
Agate
Xavier 4, Northern Kentucky 3
Singles (Order of Finish: 3,6,1,4,2*,5)
1. Brett Winters (XU) def.
Nathan Schwartz (NKU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
2. Srdan Pejic (XU) def.
Emilien Burnel (NKU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3.
Andrew Niehaus (NKU) def. Matthew Graft (XU) 6-2, 6-2
4.
Jorge Rodriguez Agudo (NKU) def. Jan Vrba (XU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
5.
Brandon Ponomarew (NKU) def. Aaron Thompson 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
6. Shashank Reddy (XU) def.
Anthony Bosch (NKU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2,3,1*)
1. Srdan Pejic/Brett Winters (XU) def.
Brandon Ponomarew/Jorge Rodriguez (NKU) 7-5
2.
Emilien Burnel/
Andrew Niehaus (NKU) def. Jan Vrba/Michael Lee (XU) 6-3
3. Matthew Graft/Shashank Reddy (XU) def.
Nathan Schwartz/
Anthony Bosch (NKU) 7-6(3)
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