April 13, 2008

Results

EVANSTON, Ill. -- In its last home dual match of the season, Northwestern fell to No. 53 Iowa, 6-1. The Wildcats have one match remaining to pick up a Big Ten victory before commencement of the Big Ten Championship, April 23-27.

Despite fighting hard to earn the doubles point, the Wildcats (7-15, 0-9) were unable to bring the momentum into singles play, dropping each of their six matches.

Northwestern took the doubles point in dramatic fashion and secured a 1-0 match lead going into singles. At No. 2, Peter Rispoli (Naples, Fla./St. Stephens (Texas)) and David Seyferth (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Pioneer) redeemed Saturday's performance with an impressive 8-4 win. Marc Dwyer (Peachtree City, Ga/Independent Study H.S.) and Alex Sanborn (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) fell at No. 1, 8-3, forcing the all-important match at No. 3 as the doubles decider.

Alexander Thams (Stockholm, Sweden/Enskilda Gymnasiet) and Andrew McCarthy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) battled to the end at No. 3, forcing a tiebreaker to decide the critical match. After Iowa tied the match, 8-8, the Wildcats' duo dominated, 7-2, in the tiebreaker. With the 9-8 match victory, Northwestern secured the doubles point and hoped to bring the momentum into singles play.

Iowa tied the match, 1-1, when Thams was unable to carry-over his play from doubles, and fell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3. The Hawkeyes took a 2-1 match advantage when Dwyer fell at No. 1 a short time later, 6-2, 6-3.

Northwestern went down 3-1, when Andrew McCarthy fell in straight sets at No. 3. After taking an early lead in the first set, McCarthy was unable to prevail and dropped the first, 6-3. Unable to capitalize off his first career dual victory Saturday, McCarthy dropped the second set 6-3, securing the match for his Hawkeye opponent.

The Wildcats went down 4-1, clinching the match for Iowa, when Sanborn lost at No. 2. Sanborn forced a first set tiebreaker, but dropped the set 7-6. He was unable to gain control in the second set and fell 6-1, clinching the match for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes took a 5-1 match advantage with a win in a hard fought battle at No. 6. David Seyferth played with determination in a pair of close sets, but fell, 6-4, 6-4.

The match at No. 4 brought the most excitement, with freshman Peter Rispoli looking to gain the lone singles point for Northwestern. After hanging on to take the first set, 7-6, Rispoli fell, 6-0, in the second, forcing a third set `superbreaker.' Rispoli continued to fight hard hoping to earn the 'Cats a win, but in a back-and-forth match, fell 1-0 (10-8).

With the loss against Iowa, 6-1, the Wildcats hope to earn their first Big Ten victory next weekend, in their last chance before the Big Ten Championship. Northwestern travels to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 19.

Singles competition

1. Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) def. Marc Dwyer (NU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Christian Bierich (IOWA) def. Alex Sanborn (NU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
3. J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) def. Alexander Thams (NU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Reinoud Haal (IOWA) def. Peter Rispoli (NU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-0, 1-0 (10-8)
5. Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) def. Andrew McCarthy (NU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Gregory Holm (IOWA) def. David Seyferth (NU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Bart van Monsjou/J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) def. Marc Dwyer/Alex Sanborn (NU) 8-4
2. Peter Rispoli/David Seyferth (NU) def. Walker Grimes/Gregory Holm (IOWA) 8-3
3. Andrew McCarthy/Alexander Thams (NU) def. Christian Bierich/Reinoud Haal (IOWA) 9-8 (7-2)

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,1,5,2,6,4)

Kenosha Scrimmage: Pat Fitzgerald
Kenosha Scrimmage: C.J. Bachér
Kenosha Scrimmage: Tyrell Sutton
Kenosha Day Four: Prince Kwateng
Kenosha Day Four: Mark Woodsum