Ball State
Bulls Lose in MAC Title Match, 4-3
4/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, IN - The UB men's tennis team lost a heartbreaking 4-3 match to the host Ball State Cardinals Saturday afternoon in the Mid-American Conference tournament championship match. The team would make a big comeback late, but would lose on a third-set tiebreaker with the match tied 3-3.
In doubles play, the Cardinals would win a quick decision at number two, but the Bulls countered with an 8-5 win at third doubles from Pablo Alvarez and Sebastian Ionescu. Damien David and Akhil Mehta would claim the doubles point thanks to an 8-7 win.
In singles play, the two-teams split the first sets and the results would come flying in to set up the dramatic finish. Ball State won three straight-set decisions at fourth, second and first singles to run out to a 3-1 lead. Needing to win out, the Bulls would start with a 6-3, 7-5 win from freshman Jonathan Hannestad at sixth singles. Akhil Mehta followed with a straight-set win of his own, winning a second-set tiebreaker in the fifth flight, 6-4, 7-6, to tie the overall score at 3-3.
While the first five matchups would be decided quickly, the match at third singles would come down to the wire. Alvarez won his first set 6-4 but fell back and lost his second set 6-1 and would trail early in the third as Mehta was finishing up his win.
Down 4-3 in the third, Alvarez was able to finally break serve and went up 5-4. Needing to win by two, Alvarez would trade games with his opponent, who tied it at 5-5 before Alvarez led again 6-5. He again could not close it out, and the match would go to a tiebreaker. Ball State would claim the win in the tiebreaker, 9-7, to take the 4-3 win.
"This year has been a tremendous effor from our guys, and I couldn't ask for anything more from them," head coach Lee Nickell said following the match. "We made history this year and represented the university and athletic department with class and dignity. Today we had numerous championship points but we couldn't quite get the ball we wanted. Credit to Ball State, they came up with big shots when they need them."
The team finishes the 2014 season with a 12-8 overall record and enjoyed its first season in the national rankings. The Bulls return every starter from this year's team in 2015, though it loses two important senior leaders.
"I'd like to thank Jason Simon and Yevgeniy Jason Shkodnik for their hard work and dedication over the last four years," Nickell added. "I would also like to thank George Tibil for his five years of service as an athlete and a coach. His work ethic, and love for the program and university, will be missed."
Singles
1. Ray Leonard (BSU) def. Damien David (UB) 7-5, 6-2
2. Patrick Elliott (BSU) def. Sebastian Ionescu (UB) 6-1, 6-3
3. Lucas Andersen (BSU) def. Pablo Alvarez (UB) 4-7, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
4. Austin Smith (BSU) def. Sergio Arevalillo (UB) 6-1, 6-1
5. Akhil Mehta (UB) def. Patrick Downs (BSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Jonathan Hannestad (UB) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU) 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
1. Akhil Mehta/Damien David (UB) def. Austin Smith/Ray Leonard (BSU) 8-7 (7-4)
2. Patrick Elliott/Andrew Stutz (BSU) def. Jonathan Hannestad/Sergio Arevalillo (UB) 8-2
3. Sebastian Ionescu/Pablo Alvarez (UB) def. Lucas Andersen/Matt Helm (BSU) 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,2,1,6,5,3)
All-Tournament Team
Akhil Mehta, Buffalo
Jonathan Hannestad, Buffalo
Lucas Andersen, Ball State
Austin Smith, Ball State
Frederic Cadieux, Northern Illinois
Stjepan Sisko, Toledo
