Michigan State University
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Western Michigan
Brian Compton Helps Give Spartan Netters 4-3 Win Over Western Michigan
2/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 6, 2005
WMU Box Score
Valparaiso Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - In its final doubleheader of the season Sunday, Feb. 6, the No. 60 Michigan State men's tennis team edged No. 69 Western Michigan, 4-3, on WMU's home courts, and then cruised past Valparaiso, 6-1. The victories, highlighted by a nail-biting win by freshman Brian Compton in the first match, boosted State's record to 6-2 on the year while the Broncos fell to 5-3 and the Crusaders dropped to 0-4.
"It was a true battle out there against Western Michigan," said head coach Gene Orlando. "It came down to the last match and we fought hard and we got it."
The Spartans were determined to knock off the only MAC squad in the ITA poll in the first match of the twin-bill. With both losses this season coming to ranked foes last week, MSU needed to get a win against the No. 69 Broncos Sunday. But as play opened up, Western quickly grabbed momentum by taking two of three doubles matches for a 1-0 overall lead. State's only victory came at No. 1 as senior Andrew Formanczyk and freshman Nick Rinks, No. 47 in the country, topped Brady Crosby and Tommy Dennis, 9-7. It was the first match for the ranked-Spartan duo since Oct. 25, 2004.
Singles began with WMU taking a 2-0 lead when Jose Orozco defeated Rinks at No. 2, 6-0, 6-4. Michigan State fought back and claimed the next three points. No. 102 Andrew Formanczyk edged Dennis at No. 1, 6-4, 6-4, freshman Adam Monich squeaked by Tim Bradshaw at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4, and senior Cameron Marshall got by Crosby at No. 3, 6-2, 7-5. After sophomore Joseph McWilliams fell in a close three-set contest with Alex Birchmeier at No. 5, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, the overall match came down to No. 6. Compton, in his first collegiate dual-match singles appearance, split the first two sets with Jeff French, and eventually gave Michigan State the overall win by posting a close 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(6) triumph.
"It was pretty dramatic," said Orlando. "Compton was struggling with some cramping but he saved two match points in a row on his own serve. It looked ugly and we just pulled it out."
After celebrating their victory, the Spartans faced Valparaiso in the night-cap. Senior Anthony Stefani and junior Mike Brown won at No. 2 doubles while Marshall and McWilliams grabbed a win at No. 3 to lock up the doubles point. Sophomore Michael Flowers and Monich unfortunately could not complete the sweep by falling to the Crusaders' top duo of Ben Dunham-Freer and Nic Kooyers, 9-8(5).
In singles competition, Rinks, Monich, McWilliams, Flowers and Brown all notched victories to give Michigan State the 6-1 overall win.
MSU stays on the road next week when it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face Arkansas, currently ranked No. 20 in the country, in a neutral-site battle Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.
Players Mentioned
