Saturday, February 4
Muncie, Ind..
1:00 PM
Ball State University
2
vs
5
Michigan State University
Photo by: Ball State Athletics
Men's Tennis Puts Up Strong Fight But Loses To Michigan State, 5-2
February 04, 2017 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team (1-4) competed strong against its third Big Ten opponent in three weeks losing to the Michigan State Spartans (3-3) by a score of 5-2 Saturday afternoon in the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
"It was a tough loss for our guys. We played well and fought hard," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "Every singles match could have gone either way and we could only pull out two of them. It's disappointing when you have it in your grasp and can't convert. MSU came up bigger in big moments."
The Cardinals fell behind early to the Spartans after losing on courts two and three. Marko Guzina alongside teammate Patrick Downs fell 6-1 to Billy Shisler and Doug Francken on court two. The Spartans then clinched the point at the No. 3 position over Nemanja Guzina and Conner Andersen, 6-4. Although the doubles point had been decided Ball State's No. 1 doubles tandem of Lucas Andersen and Andrew Stutz was tied with Jasper Koenen and Michael Dube, 5-5.
The match could've gone either way in singles action. All six matches either went to three sets or tie breakers. Conner Andersen and Downs were the two wins for the Cardinals today. Conner Andersen captured a three set thriller over Ivan Rakic, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 on court five. Downs also took his opponent Colin Harvey to three sets. He won the first set 6-1 but then fell short in the second 7-6 (5). Downs then took the final set from Harvey only giving up two games and winning 6-2 at the No. 6 position.
On the top court, Lucas Andersen nearly won his match over Brett Forman after dropping the first set 6-4 he came back to win the second 7-6 (4). Lucas Andersen was then up 6-5 in the third but lost the tiebreaker.
The Ball State men's tennis team continues spring action at home Saturday, Feb. 11 against Detroit at 1 p.m. in the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
Singles
1. Brett Forman (MSU) def. Lucas Andersen (BSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7)
2. Michael Dube (MSU) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Jasper Koenen (MSU) def. Marko Guzina (BSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
4. Alexander Kim (MSU) def. Nemanja Guzina (BSU) 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-1
5. Conner Andersen (BSU) def. Ivan Rakic (MSU) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
6. Patrick Downs (BSU) def. Colin Harvey (MSU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
Doubles
1. Jasper Koenen/Michael Dube (MSU) vs. Lucas Andersen/Andrew Stutz (BSU) 5-5
2. Billy Shisler/Doug Francken (MSU) def. Marko Guzina/Patrick Downs (BSU) 6-1
3. Brett Forman/Alexander Kim (MSU) def. Nemanja Guzina/Conner Andersen (BSU) 6-4
"It was a tough loss for our guys. We played well and fought hard," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "Every singles match could have gone either way and we could only pull out two of them. It's disappointing when you have it in your grasp and can't convert. MSU came up bigger in big moments."
The Cardinals fell behind early to the Spartans after losing on courts two and three. Marko Guzina alongside teammate Patrick Downs fell 6-1 to Billy Shisler and Doug Francken on court two. The Spartans then clinched the point at the No. 3 position over Nemanja Guzina and Conner Andersen, 6-4. Although the doubles point had been decided Ball State's No. 1 doubles tandem of Lucas Andersen and Andrew Stutz was tied with Jasper Koenen and Michael Dube, 5-5.
The match could've gone either way in singles action. All six matches either went to three sets or tie breakers. Conner Andersen and Downs were the two wins for the Cardinals today. Conner Andersen captured a three set thriller over Ivan Rakic, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 on court five. Downs also took his opponent Colin Harvey to three sets. He won the first set 6-1 but then fell short in the second 7-6 (5). Downs then took the final set from Harvey only giving up two games and winning 6-2 at the No. 6 position.
On the top court, Lucas Andersen nearly won his match over Brett Forman after dropping the first set 6-4 he came back to win the second 7-6 (4). Lucas Andersen was then up 6-5 in the third but lost the tiebreaker.
The Ball State men's tennis team continues spring action at home Saturday, Feb. 11 against Detroit at 1 p.m. in the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
Singles
1. Brett Forman (MSU) def. Lucas Andersen (BSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7)
2. Michael Dube (MSU) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Jasper Koenen (MSU) def. Marko Guzina (BSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
4. Alexander Kim (MSU) def. Nemanja Guzina (BSU) 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-1
5. Conner Andersen (BSU) def. Ivan Rakic (MSU) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
6. Patrick Downs (BSU) def. Colin Harvey (MSU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
Doubles
1. Jasper Koenen/Michael Dube (MSU) vs. Lucas Andersen/Andrew Stutz (BSU) 5-5
2. Billy Shisler/Doug Francken (MSU) def. Marko Guzina/Patrick Downs (BSU) 6-1
3. Brett Forman/Alexander Kim (MSU) def. Nemanja Guzina/Conner Andersen (BSU) 6-4
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
123
Brett Forman / 0 [MSU]
477
666
#2 Singles Match
12
Michael Dube / 0 [MSU]
67
36
#3 Singles Match
123
Jasper Koenen / 0 [MSU]
626
464
#4 Singles Match
123
Alexander Kim / 0 [MSU]
676
751
#5 Singles Match
123
Ivan Rakic / 0 [MSU]
664
736
#6 Singles Match
123
Colin Harvey / 0 [MSU]
172
666
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link // Bill Richards Throwback Thursday
Wednesday, June 25
Athletics // Ball State Men's Tennis Head Coach Bill Richards retirement
Wednesday, June 25