Michigan State University
Butler
Men's Tennis Takes Another Doubleheader
1/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 24, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Jan. 24, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's men's tennis team (ranked No. 59) continued its early season dominance Saturday with 7-0 victories over Butler and Cleveland State. With the two wins, MSU improved to 4-0 overall (0-0 Big Ten) as the sweep marked the 10th straight time the Spartans have won both matches of a doubleheader.
"I think we're doing pretty well and progressing each week," said head coach Gene Orlando. "We've got the tougher part of the non-conference season coming up with Louisville and Wake Forest coming in next week. Hopefully we'll be ready to play our best tennis that weekend and continue to get better."
Against Butler (0-2 overall, 0-0 Horizon), State captured all three doubles matches for the first point. While senior Chris Mitchell (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and junior Andrew Formanczyk (Rochester Hills, Mich.) eased to an 8-3 win at No. 2 over Kevin Gill and James Low, Butler put the pressure on in the other two contests. At No. 3, junior Anthony Stefani (Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.) and sophomore Mike Brown (Portage, Mich.) seized a 7-3 lead over BU's Mike Weaver and Evan West only to see it close to 7-5. But Stefani put it away with an unreturnable serve to secure the doubles point, 8-5. In the remaining battle at No. 1, senior Eric Simonton (Annandale, N.J.) and junior Cameron Marshall (Louisville, Ky.) also posted a 7-3 lead against Andy Bartish and Brandon Gill. The Spartan duo almost let the match slip away but dug deep to hold on for a 9-7 victory.
MSU then went on to control singles action by winning all six points. Formanczyk avenged a loss to Kevin Gill last season with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 1 to stay undefeated as a ranked player. He currently sits at No. 100 in the nation and is 13-4 overall in his third year with State.
"What I've learned so far is that I'm coming back this year with a target on my back," said Formanczyk. "I think I'm a marked guy and everybody's playing their best against me.
"I wanted to have a high first serve percentage and I did but he hit some great returns. The final game I said all serves will go to the corners to get him on the run. Last year I lost to him. I had some injuries problems then, but it's great to see all of the hard work paying off and I'm starting to see the results. I think the team is too."
Marshall, Mitchell, Simonton, Brown and Stefani also recorded singles victories over BU.
Former MSU assistant Brian Etzkin and Cleveland State walked into the Indoor Tennis Facility fresh and ready to go as State had just completed its match with the Bulldogs. Fortunately for Orlando, his players still had enough energy to post another shutout. The duos of Marshall/Simonton, Formanczyk/Mitchell and Brown/Stefani once again came away with wins, all by the score of 8-2, in doubles action for the opening point.
Michigan State used the same singles lineup against the Vikings and every Spartan posted a win in straight sets. CSU only managed a total of 15 games in the six matches.
The Spartans' hit the courts Jan. 31 for a huge clash at home with No. 52 Louisville at 12 p.m. On Feb. 1, MSU meets No. 30 Wake Forest and Valparaiso in East Lansing starting at 12 p.m.
Saturday's Results vs. ButlerDoublesNo. 1 Cameron Marshall/Eric Simonton (MSU) def. Andy Bartish/Brandon Gill (BU) 9-7No. 2 Andrew Formanczyk/Chris Mitchell (MSU) def. Kevin Gill/James Low (BU) 8-3No. 3 Mike Brown/Anthony Stefani (MSU) def. Mike Weaver/Evan West (BU) 8-5SinglesNo. 1 #100 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) def. Kevin Gill (BU) 6-4, 6-4No. 2 Cameron Marshall (MSU) def. Brandon Gill (BU) 6-2, 7-5No. 3 Chris Mitchell (MSU) def. James Low (BU) 7-6(7), 6-4No. 4 Eric Simonton (MSU) def. Andy Bartish (BU) 6-0, 6-1No. 5 Mike Brown (MSU) def. Mike Weaver (BU) 6-4, 6-3No. 6 Anthony Stefani (MSU) def. Evan West (BU) 7-6(3), 4-6, 1-0(10-3)Michigan State defeats Butler, 7-0Records: MSU 3-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten BU 0-2 overall, 0-0 HorizonOrder of Finish: Doubles 2, 3, 1 Singles 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, 6Length of Match: 4:45 (only four courts were used)
Saturday's Results vs. Cleveland StateDoublesNo. 1 Cameron Marshall/Eric Simonton (MSU) def. Jay Tee/Eric Winn (CSU) 8-2No. 2 Andrew Formanczyk/Chris Mitchell (MSU) def. Paul Haley/Dan Singer (CSU) 8-2No. 3 Mike Brown/Anthony Stefani (MSU) def. Brett Aronson/Jordan Reynolds (CSU) 8-2SinglesNo. 1 #100 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) def. Jay Tee (CSU) 6-1, 6-1No. 2 Cameron Marshall (MSU) def. Eric Winn (CSU) 6-2, 6-3No. 3 Chris Mitchell (MSU) def. Dan Singer (CSU) 6-2, 6-1No. 4 Eric Simonton (MSU) def. Brett Aronson (CSU) 6-1, 6-0No. 5 Mike Brown (MSU) def. Paul Haley (CSU) 6-1, 6-1No. 6 Anthony Stefani (MSU) def. Jordan Reynolds (CSU) 6-1, 6-1Michigan State defeats Cleveland State, 7-0Records: MSU 4-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten CSU 0-2 overall, 0-0 HorizonOrder of Finish: Doubles 3, 2, 1 Singles 4, 5, 1, 6, 2, 3Length of Match: 2:01
Players Mentioned
