April 28, 2011

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Northern Illinois men's tennis team saw its season come to a close on Thursday afternoon as it fell, 4-0, to Ball State in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at the West Hills Athletic Club.

"Maksym Bartiuk and Axel Lagerlof came to play today, as they have all season long," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We just struggled at the bottom of the lineup today and that was the difference in the match. We competed, but competing and beating people are two different things. The next stage in the development of our team is to be able to beat people."

Ball State earned victories at number two and three doubles to clinch the doubles point. The Cardinals won 8-1 at number three and 8-3 at number two to ensure the point. With the point already clinched, the match at flight one was stopped with Ball State leading, 7-4.

The Huskies earned first set victories in the top two flights of singles play. Recently named First Team All-MAC selection Maksym Bartiuk claimed the first set, 6-3, over Zane Smith at number one. Axel Lagerlof clipped Cliff Morrison, 7-5, at number two. 

Ball State dropped just one game in winning the first set at flights four through six. The Cardinals Alexandre Brym also edged Roman Turtygin, 7-6, in the first set at number three.

The Cardinals won the first point in singles play when Austin Sansone completed a 6-0, 6-2 victory at number five. Ball State then pulled within a point of clinching the match as Shaun Bussert wrapped up a win at number six with an identical score, 6-0, 6-2.

Ball State then ended the match as Andres Monroy claimed a 6-1, 6-1 victory at number four, giving the Cardinals the four points necessary to end the match.

Lagerlof was leading 3-2 in the second set at number two when play was halted and Bartiuk had fallen behind 4-2 in the second set at number one after his first set win. Brym had taken the first game of the second set from Turtygin at flight three.

Despite today's loss, NIU finishes the season with an 11-16 record, an improvement upon last season's 10-win campaign.

"Our future is as bright as it has ever been. We have some very good pieces in place and we have some other good pieces that were unavailable to us this season. We didn't make excuses; we still won more than we did last year. It's an improvement, not as much as we wanted, but still an improvement. Everybody comes back next year and I am excited about next season."

No 3. Ball State 4, No. 4 Northern Illinois 0

Singles
1. Maksym Bartiuk (NIU) vs. Zane Smith (BSU) 6-3, 2-4, unfinished
2. Axel Lagerlof (NIU) vs. Cliff Morrison (BSU) 7-5, 3-2, unfinished
3. Alexandre Brym (BSU) vs. Roman Turtygin (NIU) 7-6, 1-0, unfinished
4. Andres Monroy (BSU) def. Maksym Lagutin (NIU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Austin Sansone (BSU) def. Bryant Poggensee-Wei (NIU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Shaun Bussert (BSU) def. Tyler Stephens (NIU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
1. Derek Carpenter/Zane Smith (BSU) def. Axel Lagerlof/Roman Turtygin (NIU) 7-4
2. Andres Monroy/Cliff Morrison (BSU) def. Maksym Bartiuk/Maksym Lagutin (NIU) 8-3
3. Shaun Bussert/Austin Sansone (BSU) def. Bryant Poggensee-Wei/Tyler Stephens (NIU) 8-1