No. 4 Buckeyes Fall in ITA Indoor Championship Semifinal
Buckeyes downed by No. 1 University of Virginia
The match came down to a three-set battle between No. 2 Peter Kobelt and No. 1 Alex Domijan with the team score tied at 3-all
Feb. 17, 2013
Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The fourth ranked Ohio State men's tennis team dropped a hard fought 4-3 decision to No. 1 Virginia Sunday in the semifinals of the 2013 ITA National Team Indoor Championship. With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 10-2 on the season, while the Cavaliers improve to 5-0.
On the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, the match came down to a three-set battle between No. 2 Peter Kobelt and No. 1 Alex Domijan with the team score tied at 3-all. After losing the first set, 6-3, Kobelt rallied to win the second set by the same score. However, the Buckeye from New Albany, Ohio, lost a 7-5 decision in the final and deciding set.
Buckeye Duos Dominate
Ohio State had not lost a doubles point in the 2013 edition of the championship and that streak continued against Virginia. The first of two doubles victories needed to claim the point came when Blaz Rola and Kevin Metka defeated Domijan and Mitchell Frank 8-4. The second Buckeye win came via an 8-6 upset of No. 15 Justin Shane and Julen Uriguen by Devin McCarthy and Ille Van Engelen. The No. 36 ranked tandem of Kobelt and Connor Smith were leading 7-6 over No. 4 Jarmere Jenkins and Mac Styslinger, but did not finish.
Singles Slip
Rola was the first Buckeye to claim victory for Ohio State and gave the Scarlet and Gray a 2-0 lead with his 6-4, 6-2 defeat of No. 7 Jenkins at No. 1 singles. The Buckeyes then dropped three consecutive matches starting with Justin Shane's victory over Hunter Callahan 7-5, 6-3, on court No. 6. Next, No. 37Chris Diaz dropped a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) decision to No. 25 Ryan Shane at No. 5 singles. The third Cavalier point came at the No. 3 position - a win by Mitchell Frank against McCarthy 6-4, 6-2. The Buckeyes tied the match, 3-3, with a win by No. 30 Smith over No. 5 Styslinger 6-4, 7-6, on court No. 4 before the showdown at No. 2 singles.
Up Next
Ohio State will come back to Columbus for two home matches against Notre Dame at noon Feb. 23 and LSU at noon Feb. 24. Both matches will be held in the Varsity Tennis Center.
Blaz Rola Earns Big Ten Athlete of the Week Honors
Rola, Buckeyes return home this weekend to face No. 25 Notre Dame, No. 24 LSU
Blaz Rola has earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors eight times.
Feb. 20, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Blaz Rola, a junior on the No. 4 Ohio State men?s tennis team, was named the Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Week, the league announced Wednesday. The native of Slovenia earned Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors for the eighth time in his Ohio State career. On the season, Rola is 7-0 overall (7-0 dual) in singles play and 7-0 overall (7-0 dual) in doubles.
Rola and the Buckeyes will resume action in Columbus this weekend vs. No. 25 Notre Dame at noon Saturday and No. 25 LSU at noon Sunday after competing in the 2013 ITA Team Indoor Championships in Seattle, Wash.
During the Buckeyes? tournament run, which ended in the semifinal vs. No. 1 Virginia 4-3, Rola, ranked 62nd nationally, recorded two wins at No. 1 singles and three victories at No. 3 doubles for a 5-0 record on the week. Additionally Rola and Kevin Metka were the first doubles team to win for the Buckeyes in each match and Rola needed only two sets for each singles victory.
At the Team Indoor Championships, Rola helped the Buckeyes defeat two ranked opponents and helped earn two of the three points Ohio State tallied against Virginia. Against No. 13 Cal, Rola and Metka won 8-5 over Gregory Bayane and Chase Melton in third doubles, before winning in first singles 6-3, 4-2 (retired) against No. 82 Ben McLachlan.
The next opponent faced by the Buckeyes was No. 5 Pepperdine. In that match Rola and Metka defeated David Sofaer and Mousheg Hovhannisyan 8-0. Rola was up a set on No. 4 Sebastian Fanselow in singles before the match went unfinished.
Against Virginia, Rola and Metka won again at No. 3 doubles with an 8-4 defeat of Alex Domijan and Mitchell Frank. On court one in singles, Rola won 6-4, 6-2 against No. 7 Jarmere Jenkins. . . .
Buckeyes Will Compete in Top 25 Showdowns at Varsity Tennis Center
No. 4 Ohio State takes on No. 25 Notre Dame & No. 24 LSU this weekend
The Buckeyes look to extend their consecutive home winning streak to 158 matches
Feb. 22, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Fourth ranked Ohio State returns to the Varsity Tennis Center this weekend after competing in the 2013 ITA Team Indoor Championships to face No. 25 Notre Dame at noon Saturday and No. 24 LSU at noon Sunday. Notre Dame and LSU will mark the sixth and seventh consecutive ranked opponents the Buckeyes have faced in their last seven matches. The streak started with a 5-2 victory over then-No. 6 Georgia. The Scarlet and Gray then were dealt their first loss of the season at No. 15 Texas A&M by a score of 4-3. Next on schedule was the ITA Team Indoor Championship, in Seattle, Wash. The Buckeyes managed two shutout victories over ranked opponents, defeating No. 13 Cal 4-0 and No. 5 Pepperdine 4-0, before falling 4-3 to the eventual tournament champion, No. 1 Virginia. On the 2013 spring season, Ohio State (10-2) owns a 5-2 record vs. ranked competition.
Buckeyes Battle Irish
Ohio State and Notre Dame, two universities with rich traditions in football, also have a significant history in men's tennis. The two programs have met 53 times, with the Irish holding a one-match advantage at 27 wins to Ohio State's 26. However, since Ty Tucker took as head coach for Ohio State in 2000, the Buckeyes boast an 8-4 record over the Irish, including a string of six consecutive wins.
The 2013 edition between Ohio State and Notre Dame will showcase a pair of ranked doubles teams, No. 36 Peter Kobelt and Connor Smith for Ohio State and No. 55 Alex Lawson and Billy Pecor for Notre Dame. Both teams also have ranked singles players, including No. 2 Kobelt, No. 30 Smith, No. 37 Chris Diaz and No. 62 Blaz Rola for the Buckeyes and No. 71 Greg Andrews for the Irish.
Ohio State Faces LSU
In their second match of the weekend, the Buckeyes will take on the Tigers. The match will mark the 14th meeting between the programs, with Ohio State leading the all-time series 8-5. The series has been dominated by the Buckeyes under Tucker, who owns a 7-1 record vs. the Tigers. The seven wins have come in consecutive seasons since 2006, with the only loss being 4-1 at LSU in 2005. LSU features the ranked double tandem of Chris Simpson and Stefan Szacinski, who comprise the No. 35 team in the country.
Pair of Buckeyes Named to ITA National Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team
Rola earns recognition in singles; Rola and Metka garner doubles honor
Feb. 22, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio? Blaz Rola and Kevin Metka, members of the No. 4 Ohio State men?s tennis team, were recognized by the ITA Friday when they were named to the 2013 ITA National Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team. Rola earned No. 1 singles all-tournament team laurels, while Rola was joined by Metka at No. 3 doubles.
No. 4 Ohio State Beats No. 25 Notre Dame, 7-0
Buckeyes return to action at noon Sunday vs. No. 24 LSU
Buckeyes improve their consecutive home winning streak to 159 matches
Feb. 23, 2013
Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? The fourth-ranked Ohio State men?s tennis team beat No. 25 Notre Dame, 7-0, Saturday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 11-2, while Notre Dame drops to 6-5.
Devin McCarthy clinched the win for the Scarlet and Gray at No. 3 singles. Playing Blas Moros, McCarthy relinquished only four points en route to a 6-2, 6-2 win. McCarthy, a redshirt senior, improves to 6-2 at the No. 3 position.
Senior and No. 30 Connor Smith lifted Ohio State to a 2-0 lead after beating Wyatt McCoy, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 5 singles. Smith earned his 10th dual victory of the season to bring his win total to 18 (four losses). Playing at the top position, junior Blaz Rola, No. 62, improved his win streak to eight and remains undefeated on the season at 8-0. Rola handed Greg Andrews, ranked 71st, a 6-4, 6-1 loss and propelled the Scarlet and Gray to a 3-0 lead before McCarthy?s victory.
For the 12th time this season, Ohio State won the doubles point. Paced by wins on courts Nos. 2 and 3, the Buckeyes entered the singles competition with a 1-0 lead. The pair of McCarthy and Ille Van Engelen won their third-consecutive match and gave the Scarlet and Gray an early advantage when they beat No. 55 Billy Pecor and Alex Lawson, 8-3. Soon after, Rola and Kevin Metka, who recently were named to the 2013 ITA Team Indoor Championship All-Tournament Team, finished at No. 3 doubles with an 8-4 victory vs. Matt Dooley and Quentin Monaghan. Rola and Metka have now won six consecutive matches, all on court No. 3. Buckeyes Peter Kobelt and Smith, ranked 55th in the nation, completed their match at the No. 1 position with an 8-3 win vs. Greg Andrews and Spencer Talmadge.
A trio of Buckeyes finished out their matches with a victory. Redshirt freshman Chris Diaz was a 6-4, 6-4 winner vs. Billy Pecor at No. 4 singles, while Hunter Callahan rallied from a deficit to beat Michael Moore, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles. Finally, Kobelt concluded the day with a 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (14-12) victory vs. Monaghan.
Up next, Ohio State will face No. 24 LSU at noon Sunday in the Varsity Tennis Center at 880 W. Henderson Road. . . .
