Ducks Drop Second 4-3 Heartbreaker

Sunday, March 2

Eugene, Ore.

12 p.m.

University of Oregon

Denver

Photo by: GoDucks.com

03/02/08 | Men's Tennis

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? The Oregon men's tennis team battled with the 59th-ranked Denver Pioneers on Sunday at the Student Tennis Center, but for the second straight match, the Ducks could not find victory against a ranked opponent, suffering a heartbreaking 4-3 loss.

Oregon falls to 6-7 on the year, having dropped three straight. Denver improves to10-2.

Oregon started slow, losing the doubles point by dropping all three of those matches.

“We battled hard in singles, but we can't be a no show in doubles” Director of Tennis Nils Schyllander said. “We have to learn how to show up from the very start. That's what cost us today.”

The team of Geoff Embry and Stephen Wiechert gave Denver its biggest test, before falling, 8-6, to Niklas Persson and Ben Althaus at the No. 3 spot.

In the No. 2 position, Romeo Mortera and Alex Cornelissen took an 8-4 loss to Adam Holmstrom and Kalle Rosen, while the tandem of Francisco Gallardo and Marcos Verdasco fell 8-2 at the top spot to David Simson and Andrew Landwerlen.

In singles action it was again Denver jumping out early, as Holmstrom defeated Verdasco in two sets, 6-2, 6-2, at the top spot.

But Oregon was quick to even the score as Gallardo defeated Persson in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3 at No.2.

The third match to finish up was the No. 6 spot as Rosen swept Wiechert, 6-3, 6-3.

In the No. 4 position, Mortera lost his first set, 6-3, to Althaus, and fought hard in the second set, but dropped the tiebreaker to fall 7-6.

Oregon did finish strong in the last two matches to end the afternoon.

Embry picked up his fourth singles victory of the season, sweeping Landwerlen, 7-6, 6-3 in the No. 5 position. While in the No. 3 spot, Cornelissen took David Simson to three sets, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

No. 59 Denver 4, Oregon 3

Doubles

1. Simson/Landerwerlen (DEN) def. Verdadsco/Gallardo (ORE), 8-2

2. Homstrom/Rosen (DEN) def. Cornelissen/Mortera (ORE), 8-4

3. Persson/Altaus (DEN) def. Embry/Wiechert (ORE), 8-6

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles

1. Adam Holmstrom (DEN) def. Marcos Verdasco (ORE), 6-2, 6-2

2. Francisco Gallardo (ORE) def. Niklas Persson (DEN), 6-1, 6-3

3. Alex Cornelissen (ORE) def. David Simson (DEN), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5

4. Ben Althaus (DEN) def. Romeo Mortera (ORE), 6-3, 7-6

5. Geoff Embry (ORE)def. Andrew Landwerlen (DEN), 7-6, 6-3