Feb. 18, 2005
CHICAGO, Ill. - Top-ranked Baylor men's tennis earned a spot in the semifinals with 4-0 win over No. 8 Duke Friday at the Mid-Town Tennis Club in Chicago Ill. With the win, the Bears have won 30 straight as a team dating back to last season.
Baylor came out strong in doubles against a power Duke line up. Benjamin Becker and Jon Reckewey took the first doubles match defeating Stephen Amritraj and Peter Shults of Duke 8-3. Baylor grabbed the doubles point when Lars Poerschke and Michal Kokta upset No. 15-ranked Duke duo of Peter Shults and Peter Rodrigues 8-4.
Baylor continued to play well early in singles action. Becker grabbed the first singles point for Baylor with a 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 52 Jonathan Stokke in the second court. Baylor Matija Zgaga won his second match of the weekend with a win over Rodrigues, 6-4, 6-4, giving the Bears a 3-1 advantage.
Kokta sealed the victory for Baylor in a tough three-set match in the fifth court. After dropping the first set 6-4 to Shults, Kokta rallied to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
The last time Baylor advanced to the team indoor semifinals was 2003. Baylor lost to Illinois, who eventually went on to win the championships.
Baylor continues action tomorrow against Illinois. Match time is set for 3 p.m. CST.
Results: #1 Baylor 4 - #8 Duke 0
Doubles: Order of finish: 3, 2
1.. Dorsch/Zgaga (BU) vs. #14 Walter/Zimmermann (Duke) 6-5 (DNF)
2.. Poerschke/Kokta (BU) def. #15 Stokke/Rodrigues (Duke) 8-4
3. Becker/Reckewey (BU) def. Amritraj/Shults (Duke) 8-3
Singles: Order of finish: 2, 4, 5
1 Benedikt Dorsch (BU) vs. #6 Ludovic Walter (Duke) 6-3, 4-6, 2-1 (DNF)
2. Benjamin Becker(BU) def. #52 Jonathan Stokke (Duke)6-1, 6-2
3. #11 Lars Poerschke (BU) vs. #106 Stephen Amritraj (Duke)6-7(4), 6-4, 3-1 (DNF)
4 .#45 Matija Zgaga (BU) def. Peter Rodrigues (Duke)6-4, 6-4
5. Michal Kokta (BU) def. Peter Shults (Duke) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Vladimir Portnov (BU) vs. Charles Brezac (Duke) 6-7(3), 6-2 (DNF)
For complete tournament results, go to:
http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/genrel/NationalIndoors-Draws-Results.html
