Michigan State University
Louisville
Spartans Fall at No. 23 Louisville
2/12/2023 3:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Louisville moved to 6-3 (0-0 ACC) with the win, while MSU drops to 3-4 (0-0 B1G).
The Spartans secured the doubles point early in the match with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. MSU's 40th-ranked doubles tandem of freshman Ozan Baris and sophomore Max Sheldon knocked off their second ranked doubles team of the season, Louisville's 14th-ranked Natan Rodrigues and Fabien Salle, in a dominant 6-3 decision at the No. 1 position. With the win, the duo moved to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 against ranked doubles teams.
At No. 2 doubles, fifth-year senior Anthony Pero and junior Reed Crocker moved to 5-0 on the season after topping Lousville's Matthew Fung and David Mizrahi in a thrilling 7-6(7) tiebreaker match after trailing early.
At No. 3 doubles, junior Graydon Lair and sophomore Josh Portnoy fell 6-2 to the Cardinals' Sergio Hernandez and Etienne Donnet.
Taking on three nationally-ranked players from Louisville, the Spartans were unable to match the Cardinals in singles play. After Louisville clinched the match, Baris fell in a hard-fought super tiebreaker, 7-5, 7-6(9), to 26th-ranked Salle at No. 1 singles. Sheldon, playing at the No. 2 position, fell 6-4, 6-1 to No. 53 Donnet. Pero was MSU's final player to take on a ranked opponent, dropping his match at the No. 3 position to No. 121 Fung, 6-2, 6-4.
At No. 4 singles, junior Luke Baylis was defeated by Louisville's Sergio Hernandez, 6-3, 6-1, while Portnoy fell at No. 5 singles to Mizrahi, 6-1, 6-2, and freshman David Saye fell to Andre Steinbach, 6-0, 6-4.
Up next, the Spartans ready for a three-match week headlined by a 5 p.m. home dual with Drake on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the MSU Indoor Tennis Center. MSU then travels to Virginia for a match at Virginia Tech on Friday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. before taking on VCU on the road at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Results
Doubles
1. Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Fabien Salle/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) 6-3
2. Anthony Pero/Reed Crocker (MSU) def. David Mizrahi/Matthew Fung (LOU) 7-6 (9-7)
3. Sergio Hernandez/Etienne Donnet (LOU) def. Graydon Lair/Josh Portnoy (MSU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
Singles
1. Fabien Salle (LOU) def. Ozan Baris (MSU) 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
2. Etienne Donnet (LOU) def. Max Sheldon (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Matthew Fung (LOU) def. Anthony Pero (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
5. David Mizrahi (LOU) def. Josh Portnoy (MSU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Andre Steinbach (LOU) def. David Saye (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5,4,6,2,3,1
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,4,6,2,3,1
Players Mentioned
