Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Indiana
`Dogs Combat Hoosiers
3/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 17, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The 43rd-ranked Fresno State men's tennis team battled tough against a tough No. 52 Indiana team, in an emotional 5-2 Hoosier victory on Tuesday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
From the beginning, it had the makings of a great contest.
Indiana won the first doubles match on the second court, but Fresno State's Mirko Zapletal and Rudolf Siwy responded in kind. The duo pulled out a tight 8-6 victory over Santiago Gruter and Jeremy Langer on Court 1, to give each team one doubles win. Hoosiers Peter Antons and Maxime Armengaud picked up a 9-7 victory on the final court, to earn Indiana the doubles point.
Bulldog junior Tejesvi Veerepali took it upon himself to ignite the Bulldog rally.
"I knew we needed to step up in singles and have on match on the board, to bring us back into the match," Veerepali said.
Veerepali tied the team score at one match apiece with his 6-0, 6-2 victory over Armengaud on court four.
Indiana's Jeremy Langer picked up a win on court three, to regain the lead for Hoosiers. But Zapletal cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Gruter to tie the team score again.
"I played well today," Zapletal said. "My serve and forehand were really on today. I'm happy I was fortunate to come out with a win."
Indiana went on to win the final three matches on courts one, four and six to pick up the team victory.
"Indiana is a good team, we'll bounce back," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "Now we have to prepare for the Blue-Gray classic, which always has a strong field."
Fresno State will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to participate in the Blue-Gray Classic from March 19-22. The `Dogs return home on March 29 to face UC Santa Barbara.
NCAA MEN'S TENNIS March 17, 2009 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 52 Indiana def. No. 43 Fresno State 5-2
Doubles (Indiana wins the doubles point)
1. Siwy/Zapletal (FS) def. Gruter/Langer (IND) 8-6
2. Ferguson/Vogl (IND) def. Boutillier/De Villiers (FS) 8-6
3. Antons/Armengaud (IND) def. Veerepali/Leiby (FS) 9-7
Order of Completion: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Lachlan Ferguson (IND) def. Rudolf Siwy (FS) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. Santiago Gruter (IND) 6-3, 6-1
3. Jeremy Langer (IND) def. Rikus de Villiers (FS) 6-4, 6-1
4. Guy Kubi (IND) def. Remi Boutillier (FS) 6-3, 6-4
5. Tejesvi Veereplai (FS) def. Maxime Armengaud (IND) 6-0, 6-2
6. Will Kendall (IND) def. Siddharth Alapati (FS) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Order of Completion: 5, 3, 2, 4, 1*, 6
"Join the State - Fresno State" -- The Bulldogs fly to Montgomery, Ala., to participate in the prestigious Blue-Gray Classic from March 19-22. Fresno State's next home match will be March 29 against UC Santa Barbara. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
