The IUPUI men’s tennis team suffered a challenging defeat against Northern Kentucky (10-6, 4-1 HL) at the Five Seasons Sports Club on Saturday night (Apr. 6), ultimately falling 7-0. Despite the loss, the team displayed resilience, with two singles matches extending to three sets and two others featuring first set tiebreakers in favor of the hosting team.
Following this match, IUPUI’s overall record now stands at 8-14, with a 2-3 standing in Horizon League play.
Northern Kentucky secured the doubles point with victories at the first and third doubles positions. Nick Nienhaus and Trevor Ball claimed a victory over Kamil Kozerski and Noah Viste at the top spot with a score of 6-1, while the duo of Will Thurin and Steven Paz fell 6-4 at No. 3. Luke Rodic and Steven Paz were tied 4-4 when doubles play concluded.
In singles play, NKU swiftly took the No. 1 spot as Nienhaus defeated Kozerski 6-3, 6-1, and Brandon Ponomarew secured a 6-1, 6-1 win over Viste at No. 3. The remaining four singles matches were closely contested, but all ended in favor of the hosts. Tom Berry clinched the victory at No. 4, outlasting Rodic with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-3, while Ball followed with a win over Jankowski at No. 5 with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-3. As the match was already decided, the remaining two singles matches went to third sets, with Josef Zapletal defeating Paz at No. 2 with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-2), and Santiago Casamayor rallying past Eli Mercer with a score of 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3).
Looking ahead, IUPUI will continue their Horizon League play with two upcoming road matches. The Jaguars are scheduled to face Cleveland State on Saturday, April 13, followed by a match against Youngstown State on Sunday, April 14. As the team moves forward from this tough loss, they aim to bounce back and demonstrate their resilience in the upcoming matches.