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Ohio State Men's Tennis (2014/2019/2024 ITA Indoor National Champs, 17 Straight B1G Titles)

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From 'Top Dawg' in the link I pasted on the last page.

Metka serves 1st. 1-0 OSU. What else serve and volley.
2-0 OSU. Relentless attack by Metka. Overhead put away.
2-1 OSU. Metka came in and couldn't handle. Metka to serve.
3-1 OSU. Big 2nd serve out wide return long
4-1 OSU. Metka at the net again.
4-2 Metka. At the net again but TS passes.

Changeover. TS has got very few 1st serves in thus far

4-3 OSU. TS gets a first serve and quick point
5-3 OSU. Big serve and long return.
5-4 OSU. Metka played one that was going long and it cost him.
6-4 OSU. TS with a horrible forehand into net. Mp
6-5 OSU. Metka wide.
match point on Metka serve coming up
6-6. Wow nuts passing shot by TS. Metka served and volleyed and had it on the next shot but he let it go.
7-6 OSU. Big serve. No return
7-7. Metka overruled on serve call
8-7 TS. Big pass down the line.
8-8. Metka played a volley off his toes for a drop winner
9-8 OSU. Place in uproar. TS thought he got to ball ref said it bounced twice. I thought it did hit twice.
9-9. TS with a line clipper.
TS to serve 9-9
10-9 TS. Metka put a tough volley into net.
10-10. Big serve our wide with a wide return.
11-10 OSU. Another huge serve from Metka.
Double fault. Metka wins.
 
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Echo you again, it was a Huge, amazing, unbelievable, gut wrenching, upset win over the team many thought could go the distance without dropping a point!!!
Taking down the #1 seed (especially after losing the double's point) seemed like a futile venture. thought the team might just be content to mail it in.
To recap the Big Win.
Can't say enough about the coach who gets more out of this team than any other coach in the NCAA.
Even Diaz and Pollanen showed well in defeat.
Can't say enough about the Senior--a monster performance for Peter Kobelt who unlike everyone else, seems to have Mitchell Franks number.
Gutsy performance by Callahan who just got it done against the #68 player in the NCAA.
Ralf Steinbach brought his A game against a much better opponent.
And Kevin Metka should have been blown out by a better player but willed himself to a win and the team to a victory.
Already tennis pundits are predicting an easy USC victory over a "lucky" team in the Championship round.
I think this team still has some magic left to show.
Go Bucks!
 
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OSU_D/ said:
gracelhink - I saw the following on the TT forum and want to know if you have any insight. Do you know what changes the NCAA/ITA are trying to make?

Well the NCAA/ITA are the ones trying to change the sport to televise/stream it. If you are doing that, and then can't even be bothered to install some video cameras for the second biggest event in your sport, why do anything?
Click to expand...

I saw that as well, just a note that a lot of criticism, much of it warranted has been directed at the ITA directors.
This may be the last time ITA will have an indoor host site that is not state of the art. The challenge with the indoor tournament is find a site that has two sets of 6 indoor court facilities. Most college campuses don't have that type of set up. They then must depend on country clubs to supplement the 6 court facility that a college may normally have. The cameras and the cost to clubs for technology may be something they will never use again.
So ITA has very few options. ITA has other more pressing problems IMHO.
I have a lot of frustration with their ranking system, changing the way matches are scored, tournament hospitality, communication, website appearance, etc.
 
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gracelhink said:
I saw that as well, just a note that a lot of criticism, much of it warranted has been directed at the ITA directors.
This may be the last time ITA will have an indoor host site that is not state of the art. The challenge with the indoor tournament is find a site that has two sets of 6 indoor court facilities. Most college campuses don't have that type of set up. They then must depend on country clubs to supplement the 6 court facility that a college may normally have. The cameras and the cost to clubs for technology may be something they will never use again.
So ITA has very few options. ITA has other more pressing problems IMHO.
I have a lot of frustration with their ranking system, changing the way matches are scored, tournament hospitality, communication, website appearance, etc.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. It is much appreciated. Do you know what the changes in scoring are for this year?
 
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OSU_D/ said:
Thanks for the info. It is much appreciated. Do you know what the changes in scoring are for this year?
Click to expand...

"Experimental" changes in the scoring format, were adopted to reduce the length of matches, make the game more fan friendly, they include:
*no ad games, i.e. first player to win 4 points, with the point played at 40-40 the gamepoint.
*double's matches are shortened, first team to 6 games instead of 8, and a 12 point tie breaker is played at 5-5.
*Single's format is also no ad, tie breaker played at 5-5.
 
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Recap of the thriller from Houston as posted on the official site.
LINK
The fifth-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team produced another 4-3 classic with the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in the semifinals at the ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Championship Sunday held at the Downtown Club at the Met in Houston, Texas. Down 3-1, the Buckeyes (12-0) fought back to win the Top 5 contest and advance to the championship match at Noon CST Monday. Under director of tennis and head coach Ty Tucker, Ohio State remains the only team to defeat Virginia – the defending champions - in the Indoor Championships in the last six years, with the Buckeyes winning as well in the semifinals during 2012 campaign.

“It was an incredible match,” Tucker said. “Both teams had chances to win it and our guys kept fighting no matter what the circumstances were at the moment. They wanted to win the match. It’s nice to beat the defending champs and it will take a huge effort by our guys tomorrow to bring home the trophy.”

The win vs. the Cavaliers also snaps a 36-match win streak for Virginia.

Knotted at 3-3, redshirt junior Kevin Metka (Worthington, Ohio ) saved two match points in the final set tiebreaker before prevailing over Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 6-5 (7-5), 5-6 (5-7), 6-5 (12-10) at No. 5 singles to seal the win for the Buckeyes. It was the second-consecutive clinch for Metka at the tournament and his team-best 11th win of the season.

In doubles action, the No. 2 duo of redshirt senior Peter Kobelt (New Albany, Ohio) and Metka were first off court, defeating Alex Domijan and Justin Shane 6-3 on court No. 1. Redshirt junior Hunter Callahan (Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania) and freshman Herkko Pollanen (Helsinki, Finland) fell on court No.2 6-2 to Mitchell Frank and Luca Cortineli. The doubles point was then decided on court No. 3 with redshirt sophomore Chris Diaz (Columbus, Ohio) and redshirt freshman Ralf Steinbach (Halle, Germany) falling to Mac Styslinger and Kwiatkowski, 6-5 (7-1).

Down 1-0 In singles play, Ohio State and Virginia each took three first sets, but Callahan tied the match with his 6-3, 6-4 upset over No. 62 Jordan Diagle on court No. 6. Moments later, Pollanen fell to Ryan Shane on court No. 3 6-2, 6-5 (7-5). Virginia furthered its lead to 3-1 when Domijan, a player ranked No. 1 last season, defeated Diaz 6-1, 5-6 (1-7), 6-4 on court No. 2....
Click to expand...
 
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gracelhink said:
Recap of the thriller from Houston as posted on the official site.
LINK
Click to expand...
I know you are a big fan of Coach Tucker but let us give some major props to the guys who played the game. A coach can only tell them what to do but if the guys do not execute it is game, set, match for the opponent.
Also, it is nice to see the guys from central Ohio playing so well. I think Diaz is being used as a sacrificial lamb this season but somebody has to fill that role in order for the team to succeed.
 
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