Men's tennis deems ITA Regional a success
10/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
With rain delays throughout the day Friday at the USTA/ITA Mountain Regional in Las Vegas, Nev., Montana individuals Josh Smith and Carl Kuschke played their seeded opponents to three sets before being eliminated from the tournament???s main draw. With a 4-1 record in consolation play, the Grizzly squad showed their mettle vs. the region???s best in the upper rounds of back-draw play.
Facing Yannick Weihs of Denver, the tournament???s No. 3, in the round of 32, UM senior Josh Smith was plagued by the one element that he could not control, weather. Smith said, ???I started off fine, with nothing to lose, really. I played a great first set, winning 4-6. I think that it may have been a bit of a wake-up call for my opponent, because he came out firing and won 6-2 in the second. In the third, our match was interrupted by the rain, and we returned to the courts a little sporadically. The final time we came back, I have to admit that I just didn???t feel ready, I started to move my feet a little more slowly, and when you do that against a player of that caliber, it???s over.???
Kuschke would drop his third round match in similar fashion against Carl Ho of New Mexico, winning the first set and then dropping the final two.
Following the main draw eliminations and uncooperative weather conditions, which caused tournament officials to cancel all doubles consolation play and to reduce singles consolation feed matches to single sets, UM coach Nord decided to call it a tournament.
The 29th-year UM coach said, ???The guys played very well this week, through some tough off-and-on conditions. It???s a big deal to have two guys take such a run in the main draw. We also got some important wins against tough competitors by every guy on the team. Mike Facey, for example, took a great three-setter on Thursday, an important win for him at this point in the season.
???For the group, I can say that I saw only a few disappointments in 20-some matches, which says a lot for how these guys played. Andrew (Warren) and Eric (Braun), who are both new to collegiate tennis got some much needed experience at a great level, something that will help a lot come spring duals.???
Smith, who has been fighting a shoulder injury throughout the fall, took two incredible wins in his first two rounds before playing Weihs Friday. Of the senior???s example, Facey said, ???Josh has just stepped it up in a big way since we played at Eastern (Washington) a month ago. He has been a great example of how tough this team played through these past two weeks. Other Big Sky teams-Montana State and even NAU are just not showing the same toughness through these events. It???s important to remember, there are just no easy matches at Regionals.???
With the team slotted to fly out Saturday, Nord reflected upon what the performances mean for Montana spring action, saying, ???We had some great surprises in this event, having Josh do so well was a big step for the team. He is playing at an entirely different level than we saw him at lasts season. It will take some pressure off of Carl at the top of the line-up, and it brings me some confidence as well. I now have two great players that can be playing at No. 1 for the team.
???Andrew (Warren) and Josh really established themselves as a good doubles combination. With new potential coming in for the spring, I can???t say for sure, we will have a lot of good possibilities in doubles. Right now, I have to say that Warren and Smith are a strong option.???
The Grizzlies will take a long break from competition, with spring play to start at January???s end.
USTA/ITA Mountain Regional
Friday, October 22, 2010
Montana results
Main Draw
Round of 32?? (13) Carl Ho d. Carl Kuschke 6-4; 3-6; 6-1
Round of 32?? (3) Yannick Weihs d. Josh Smith 4-6; 6-2; 6-2
Consolation feed
R2 Eric Braun d. Kenny Dodd 8-3
R2 David Cysneiros d. Lander Jewett 8-4
R2 Mike Facey d. Devin Lane 8-6
R2 Andrew Warren d. Bernard Schoeman 8-1
3Q (25) Scotty Sears d. Eric Braun 8-2
