This past weekend, the Michigan Tech Men’s Tennis team closed out their regular season with three consecutive matches. The Huskies lost to Ohio Dominican and Tiffin on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, respectively, but were able to pick up a win against Findlay on Sunday, April 14.
Friday’s match against Ohio Dominican ended in a 7-2 loss. The Huskies earned a point each in doubles and singles. Duo Built Yumuang and Javier Oliveros picked up the Huskie’s first point with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles.
Pedro Rodriguez at No. 4 singles capped off the Huskies’ scoring. Rodriguez came back from a 6-7 loss in the first set and won the second set 6-1 to send the match into a tiebreaker. The third set was tightly contested, but Rodriguez was able to hold on to a 14-12 win.
Two other singles flights were sent into a tiebreaking third set. Oliveros at No. 2 went down 6-1 then fought back to win the second set 6-2. Unable to capitalize in the end, he lost the third set 6-4. The second was at No. 6. Jimmy Konarske started out with a 4-6 first set win but lost the second set 6-1. Ohio Dominican’s Gerardo Perez came back with all cylinders firing and swept the tiebreaker 10-1.
Saturday’s loss to Tiffin was by a closer margin. After earning only three points in singles, the Huskies lost by a score of 6-3.
The match started off in favor of Tiffin with the Dragons sweeping the doubles competition 3-0. Felipe Dos Santos/Pedro Rodriguez at No. 1 and Andrew Kremkow/Jimmy Konarske at No. 3 both fell 8-4. Built Yumuang and Javier Oliveros at No. 2 lost 8-5.
In singles, the Huskies picked up points at Nos. 1, 4 and 6 where Dos Santos, Rodriguez and Konarske each won by straight sets. Dos Santos won 6-4, 6-4, Rodriguez earned a comfortable 6-0, 6-3 decision and Konarske picked up the win going 6-0, 7-5.
Sunday’s match against Findlay marked the Huskies’ final match of the regular season. Kicking off with doubles, the Huskies found themselves down 2-1 after managing to earn only one win on the three doubles courts. Yumuang and Oliveros at No. 2 picked up the win with an 8-3 decision. The Huskies fell 8-5 at No. 1 and 8-4 at No. 3.
A much stronger showing in singles earned the Huskies five additional points to solidify their 6-3 win over the Oilers. The Huskies won by straight sets at Nos. 1, 4 and 6. Yumuang and Nick Kremkow at Nos. 3 and 5, respectively, were able to piece together third set wins each. Findlay earned their lone point in singles at No. 2 where Oliveros fell 7-5, 7-5.
The Men’s Tennis GLIAC Tournament will be held this weekend. The first matches will be held starting Friday, April 19, at the Midland Community Tennis Center in Midland, Mich. Only the top eight teams based on regular season conference winning percentage will compete.
The Huskies ended their regular season with a 6-5 conference record, 15-8 overall. While the standings have not been finalized, currently the Huskies stand tied for sixth with Tiffin with a 0.545 win percentage.
Best of luck to the Huskies as they close out their season this weekend at the GLIAC Tournament.