University of Oregon
Minnesota
Two Men Down, Men's Tennis Scores 5-2 Victory Over Minnesota
02/18/05 | Men's Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS ? With two players sidelined due to injury, the University of Oregon men's tennis team stepped up to the challenge and notched an important 5-2 victory over No. 37 Minnesota Friday. Entering the match having won the doubles point in each of the teams' six victories, the Ducks managed to do the same against the Golden Gophers -- with three new lineups -- helping set up the win.
With veterans Manuel Kost (wrist) and Markus Schiller (ankle) unable to play, first-year head coach Kevin Kowalik sent three completely new doubles lineups to the court. Sven Swinnen and Chris Liao struck first, defeating the Gophers' Nic Edlefsen and Brian Lipinski, 8-5. Thomas Bieri and Vlad Pino then clinched the point for Oregon with an 8-6 victory at the No. 3 position.
"We were obviously short-handed so we had to mix up the lineups," Kowalik said. "The team came out with a lot of energy and gave us a big 1-0 lead heading into singles."
In singles, junior and Sheldon High School alum Arron Spencer defeated UM's Raoul Schwark in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. After sitting out the fall due to a shoulder injury, Spencer is now 4-2 in duals.
Having won only five career matches entering the spring, Pino upped his dual record to 6-3 with a straight set victory over Lipinski.
"It was a good time to step up," Kowalik said. "We have some guys injured so it allowed new players a chance to show their worth. From top to bottom, the team fought hard and played extremely well. I think we can use this match as an example of how good we really can be."
With Minnesota wins at the No. 3 and No. 6 positions, Bieri delivered the knockout blow, upending Edlefsen, 6-2, 7-6, and giving Oregon its fourth team point.
Swinnen, ranked 16th nationally, rounded out the Ducks' victories with a 2-6, 7-5, (11-9) victory over Avery Ticer, who was recently named Big Ten Player of the Week. Swinnen is now a perfect 9-0 in duals and 16-3 overall.
The win marked the first victory for the Ducks against a top-40 opponent this season, while scoring revenge on last season's 4-3 loss to the Golden Gophers in Eugene.
The Ducks take on another Big Ten opponent tomorrow (Sat.) as they travel to Chicago to take on No. 40 Northwestern at 4 p.m.
#37 Minnesota vs. #56 Oregon
Feb. 18, 2005
Baseline Tennis Center
Singles
1. #16 Sven Swinnen (UO) def. #105 Avery Ticer (UM), 2-6, 7-5, (11-9)
2. Thomas Bieri (UO) def. Nic Edlefsen (UM), 6-2, 7-6 (8)
3. Adrien Debrene (UM) def. Chad Wilson (UO), 6-2, 6-1
4. Arron Spencer (UO) def. Raoul Schwark (UM), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
5. Vladimir Pino (UO) def. Brian Lipinski (UM), 6-4, 6-0
6. Sion Wilkins (UM) def. Eric Pickard (UO), 7-5, 7-6
Doubles
1. Ticer/Debreyne (UM) def. Spencer/Wilson (UO), 8-5
2. Chris Liao/Swinnen (UO) def. Edlefsen/Lipinski (UM), 8-5
3. Bieri/Pino (UO) def. Wilkins/Schwark (UM), 8-6
