Jorge Rodriguez
Horizon League
2
Youngstown State YSU (12-9, 5-3 HL)
4
Winner Northern Kentucky NKU (10-4, 5-3 HL)
Youngstown State YSU
(12-9, 5-3 HL)
2
Final
4
Northern Kentucky NKU
(10-4, 5-3 HL)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Teresa Turner, Director of Digital Media

Men’s @NKUNorseTennis defeats Youngstown State in #HL Tennis semifinals, 4-2

West Lafayette, Ind. – The Northern Kentucky men's tennis team claimed a win over Youngstown State in the #HL Tennis semifinals on Saturday afternoon, winning 4-2. Northern Kentucky moves up to 10-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play, and Youngstown State dips to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play. With the win, NKU advances to the championship match on Sunday.

Match Notables      
  • In doubles play, the Penguins claimed the early lead, with No. 1 pairing Valisis Vardakis and Erik Gran defeating Emilien Burnel and Andrew Niehaus 6-1 and No. 2 team Joao Garretto and David Moreno defeating Trevor Ball and Jorge Rodriguez 6-4, resulting in the No. 3 match unfinished. 
  • The Norse picked up momentum in singles play, with No. 6 Felipe Hidalgo defeating David Moreno in dual 6-4 set wins, followed by Santiago Casamayor (No. 5) topping his opponent 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, giving NKU a 2-1 lead in the match.
  • No. 2 Laurentiu Mandocescu (YSU) defeated Brandon Ponomarew 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 following the two Norse wins, but NKU dominated the rest of the match.
  • No. 3 Andrew Niehaus defeated Joao Garretto 7-5, 6-2 and No. 4 Jorge Rodriguez clinched the win, defeating Erik Gran (YSU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. 
 
The Norse square off with No. 1 seed Cleveland State in the #HL Tennis Championship Sunday, May 2 at 3 p.m. E.T. The match will be aired on ESPN+.  

Singles (Order of finish: 6, 5, 2, 3, 4)  
 
1. Emilien Burnel (NKU) vs. Vardakis, Valisis (YSU) 6-4, 2-6, 3-2, unfinished  
2. Mandocescu,Laurentiu (YSU) def. Brandon Ponomarew (NKU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-1  
3. Andrew Niehaus (NKU) def. Garretto, Joao (YSU) 7-5, 6-2  
4. Jorge Rodriguez (NKU) def. Gran, Erik (YSU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2  
5. Santiago Casamayor (NKU) def. Everett, Will (YSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4  
6. Felipe Hidalgo (NKU) def. Moreno, David (YSU) 6-4, 6-4  
 
Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2)  
 
1. Vardakis, Valisis/Gran, Erik (YSU) def. Emilien Burnel/Andrew Niehaus (NKU) 6-1  
2. Garretto, Joao/Moreno, David (YSU) def. Trevor Ball/Jorge Rodriguez (NKU) 6-4  
3. Brandon Ponomarew/Santiago Casamayor (NKU) vs. Mandocescu,Laurentiu/Everett, Will (YSU) 4-5, unfinished  
 
Follow the Norse

For more information on the Northern Kentucky University men's tennis program and all Norse athletics please visit NKUNorse.com. Stay up to date with the program throughout the year by following @NKUNorsetennis on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
 
#NorseUp 
 
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