Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Youngstown State men's tennis ousted UIC in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championships by a 4-1 score on Saturday afternoon at the Michigan Varsity Tennis Center.
The Penguins (14-8) won for the ninth straight time while the Flames end the campaign with a 5-9 mark. YSU will take on IUPUI which upset Cleveland State in the other semifinal for the Horizon League Championship on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Guins have never won the postseason title.
The contest started out tough for the Guins as they dropped the doubles point. YSU won at No. 1 quickly as
Laurentiu Mandocescu and
Harry Fouzas cruised to a 6-0 victory. However, the Flames won at No. 3 by a 6-4 margin and then won 7-6 (5) at No. 2 to jump out to the early lead.
Singles play proved to be a grind, but the Penguins were not to be denied. Only two of the six contests went straight sets.
At No. 5,
David Alvarez Moreno was solid in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ammar Wazir.
Nathan Favier picked up a 6-3, 7-6 (4) over Anthony Ngyuen at No. 4 singles.
The first three-set winner was
Will Everett at No. 6. Everett dropped his first set 6-4 before rallying to win the next two 6-3, 7-6 (4) against Kevin Kruzel to give the Guins a 3-2 lead.
The clincher came at No. 3 as
Clement Mainguy also picked up a come-from-beind win. Mainguy dropped his first set 6-7 (7) to Francesco Tacconi before roaring back for 6-1, 6-1 wins.
In the other two contests, Mandocescu led 6-7 (9), 6-3, 5-3 at No. 1 and Fouzas trailed 6-7 (7), 7-5, 2-1.
