Men's Tennis Advances to ITA National Indoors with Road Win over No. 24 Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Baylor men’s tennis (5-0) used strong play in singles action to upend No. 24 Michigan, 4-1, in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend championship match Sunday at the Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Bears improved to 18-0 all-time in ITA Kick-Off Weekend matches and advance to next month’s ITA National Indoor Team Championships in Chicago, Ill. Baylor has advanced to the national event in all nine seasons it has competed in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
The match didn’t start in the Bears’ favor though. Despite Will Little and Constantin Frantzen securing a 6-4 doubles victory over Patrick Maloney and Myles Schalet at the No. 3 spot, the Bears dropped the opening point for the first time this season with losses at the No. 1 and 2 spots.
First, Jimmy Bendeck and Johannes Schretter fell 6-3 to 35th-ranked Mattias Siimar and Andrew Fenty on court two, and then Roy Smith and Sven Lah dropped a close 7-6(5) decision to Connor Johnston and Harrison Brown at the top of the lineup.
With Michigan up 1-0, the Bears stormed back and got on the board with 17th-ranked Little’s 7-6(9), 6-0 win over Myles Schalet at the No. 3 spot. Then, the Bears took the lead with Matias Soto’s 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory against Connor Johnston on court four.
Baylor went up 3-1 after Lah outlasted Patrick Maloney, 6-4, 7-6(4) at the No. 5 spot, and then 33rd-ranked Schretter closed out the match with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Andrew Fenty on court two.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor improved to 18-0 all-time in ITA Kick-Off Weekend matches, advancing to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the ninth time in program history.
• Baylor has advanced to the national event all nine seasons it has participated in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
• Baylor started 5-0 for the fifth time in seven seasons.
• Baylor is 4-0 in neutral and road matches in ITA Kick-Off play.
• With a win today, Sven Lah started the spring season 5-0 in singles play.
• Baylor is 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.
• Baylor is now 4-1 in the doubles point and 1-0 when losing the opening point this season.
• Baylor went 2-0 in straight-set singles matches while going 2-0 in three-setters.
• Baylor went 7-2 in singles points in its two ITA Kick-Off matches.
• Baylor won its first match against Michigan and improved to 1-1 all-time against the Wolverines.
STAT OF THE MATCH
18-0 – the Bears’ all-time record in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
TOP QUOTE
Head coach Brian Boland
On the win…
“What a strong regional we played in this weekend, and we are thrilled to advance to ITA National Team Indoors. Playing Michigan in Ann Arbor was a huge challenge, and I am proud of our guys for the way they competed from top to bottom. We will continue to get better, and I am pleased with how the team is coming together.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Bears (5-0) return to Waco to host three straight home matches at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center. First, Baylor faces South Florida Friday at 6 p.m. CT, followed by a doubleheader against Nebraska and UTRGV next Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. CT, respectively.