Feb. 15, 2015
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
MADISON, Wis. - Despite going toe-to-toe with No. 29 NC State on every court, the Wisconsin men's tennis team did not have enough to finish off the Wolfpack. The Badgers pushed NC State to a third set in four of the six singles matches, but ultimately fell 7-0 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
"I know the wins aren't there right now, but like I keep saying and reinforcing to the guys, I know the wins will come," said head coach Greg Van Emburgh. "I think the improvement and development with our team is incredible."
The Badgers once again opened doubles play in impressive fashion, taking early leads on multiple courts. However, UW was unable to sustain the early momentum and lost the doubles point to the Wolfpack.
Court 1 featured a pair of nationally ranked doubles teams in UW's Josef Dodridge and Jose Maria Martin De Oliva Carranza (No. 48) and NC State's Ian Dempster and Robbie Mudge (No. 18). Despite taking the first game of the match, the Badger freshman duo fell by a final score of 6-2.
Lamar Remy and John Zordani played a highly-competitive match against Nick Horton and Beck Bond. However, the pair dropped its contest, 6-4.
Juniors Jakhongir Jalalov and Alexander Kokorev traded games back and forth with NC State's Austin Powell and Shoti Meparidze but were unable to finish out the match and trailed 5-4 at the time of its conclusion.
Singles play resembled doubles action, with Kokorev and Remy taking their opening sets and gaining the initial momentum. However, Kokorev was defeated by No. 56 Powell, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, while Remy fell to Bond by a score of 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Dodridge and Tomas Pitra battled back from early deficits to force play into the third set.
Dodridge was unable to win his third consecutive match and dropped a back-and-forth contest versus Thomas Weigel, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Pitra also played point-for-point with Simon Norenius of NC State but eventually lost 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
Although Jalalov had his chance at a number of set points versus No. 121 Robbie Mudge, he could not pull out the victory and lost a thriller, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). Carranza additionally dropped his matched to a ranked player and fell by a score of 7-5, 6-4.
"I think the guys are really excited about our match Wednesday night against Marquette."
The Badgers will round out their three-game home stand and look to bounce back Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CT) against I-94 rival Marquette.
Results - Sunday, Feb. 15
NC State def. Wisconsin, 7-0
Men's Doubles
1. Ian Dempster/Robbie Mudge def. Jose Carranza/Josef Dodridge, 6-2
2. Alexander Kokorev/Jakhongir Jalalov vs. Austin Powell/Shoti Meparidze, DNF, 4-5
3. Nick Horton/Beck Bond def. Lamar Remy/John Zordani, 6-4
Men's Singles
1. No. 56 Austin Powell def. Alexander Kokorev, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
2. No. 121 Robbie Mudge def. Jakhongir Jalalov, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Beck Bond def. Lamar Remy, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Thomas Weigel def. Josef Dodridge, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
5. Simon Norenius def. Tomas Pitra, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
6. No. 124 Nick Horton def. Jose Carranza, 7-5, 6-4
