Griz tennis punches big conference ticket
3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The University of Montana men???s tennis team climbed to 2-0 atop the Big Sky Friday after defeating conference No. 1 Northern Arizona in a dramatic 4-3, come-from-behind match at the Lumberjack???s home in Flagstaff.?? The Grizzlies climb to an even 3-3 overall while NAU falls to 8-5 and 3-1 in Big Sky play. ????
The Grizzlies trailed their NAU hosts 0-3 following losses at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles and two dropped matches at Nos. 3 and 4 singles, yet battled back, leaving the match in the hands of sophomore Ben DeMarois, playing his first Big Sky match of the season .??
Following play Friday evening, February 17 Big Sky player of the week Carl Kuschke said, ???Mikolaj (Borkowski) won for us at No. 2, giving us a 1-3 disadvantage. Then, I finished up my match at No. 1, and Mike (Facey) did his work at No. 5, putting us in a three-all tie. ??Both teams were then able to line up and watch Ben (DeMarois) play for the match. Ben won a close first set 7-5, then the NAU player reversed that result in the second set. It came down to the 6-6 tiebreaker in the third that Ben(DeMarois) won 7-5.
???In the end, things were really close, but Ben (D) was playing the better game and he really deserved the win. Though the entire team worked hard together tonight, I believe that Ben???s determination at the key moment was the vital to our victory. This win should sit squarely on his shoulders. ???
Demarois, a Missoula-Sentinel high school graduate, was playing his first singles match of the spring season for the Grizzlies. The UM sophomore was playing at No. 6 Friday in the absence of UM senior Raydner Ramos, who missed the Flagstaff match due to an academic engagement. ??????????
Kuschke, who played for the first time at No. 1 for the Grizzlies Friday, jumped to 4-2 overall (2-0 BSC) with his defeat of Lumberjack Hugo Ramadier 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2.
Kuschke said, ???My opponent was very strong in the first set, but I was able to come back well in the second, which set the momentum in my favor.???
28th year UM coach Kris Nord placed Kuschke at No. 1 for the Grizzlies for the first time Friday, saying, ???Carl plays a very physical game, and given the altitude and speed necessary at NAU, he seems like the best equipped to handle the challenge.???
Kuschke would also pull the only Griz win in doubles with partner Josh Smith. The two combined for an 8-6 win over Ben Lantz and Kevin Taylor at No. 1.
The Grizzlies remain the only undefeated team in Big Sky play, with the Lumberjacks felling preseason poll favorite Sacramento State 5-1 in their conference opener. ??
Montana goes on to challenge Scottsdale Community College Saturday in an outdoor Phoenix match. ??
Tennis Match Results
Montana vs Northern Arizona
Mar 12, 2010 at Flagstaff, Ariz.
Montana 4, Northern Arizona 3
Singles competition:
1. Carl Kuschke (UM) def. RAMADIER, Hugo (NAU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
2. Mikolaj Borkowski (UM) def. SCHIMMELBAUER, P (NAU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. PEZZUTTO, Robin (NAU) def. Josh Smith (UM) 6-1, 6-3
4. FLODBERG, David (NAU) def. David Cysneiros (UM) 6-4, 6-1
5. Michael Facey (UM) def. TAYLOR, Kevin (NAU) 7-5, 7-5
6. Ben Demarois (UM) def. LANTZ, Ben (NAU) 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition:
1. Carl Kuschke/Josh Smith (UM) def. LANTZ, Ben/TAYLOR, Kevin (NAU) 8-6
2. PEZZUTTO, Robin/SCHIMMELBAUER, P (NAU) def. Mikolaj Borkowski/David Cysneiros (UM) 8-5
3. FLODBERG, David/RAMADIER, Hugo (NAU) def. Ben Demarois/Michael Facey (UM) 8-6
Match Notes:
Montana 3-3 (2-0 BSC)
Northern Arizona 8-5 (3-1 BSC)
