HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech dropped a heartbreaking men’s tennis match to Wayne State by a 5-4 count today at Gates Tennis Center. The Huskies (4-6, 0-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) led 2-1 after doubles before the Warriors (2-6, 1-0 GLIAC) won four of the six singles matches to claim the victory.
“This was a very disappointing loss,” said head coach Mike Axford. “This was a match we certainly could have won, but we did not step up and play the points we needed to play to win.”
After splitting the first two doubles matches off the courts, Tech’s Brandon Ellefson and Anders Sandholm combined for a 9-8 (3) victory at No. 2.
The Huskies had leads in two of the first four singles matches on the courts but could only come away with one of those. Douglas Yossida edged WSU’s Kevin Turnbull 7-6 (5), 6-4 at No. 3. Tech’s No. 1 player Brett Girard was a point away from going up 5-3 in his first set before the tables turned. Warriors’ Bertrand Moulin came back to win 6-4, 6-1.
Wayne was up 4-3 as the final two matches played out. Chris Verhulst won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 6, but Tim Viola couldn’t pull out his No. 5 match (6-1, 6-3).
“After being up 2-1 after doubles, we did not play our singles at the same level as the doubles,” said Axford. “We dropped down, and that cost us the match.”
Michigan Tech will return to action with two more home matches next weekend. The Huskies will host Ferris State Saturday (March 28) and Grand Valley State Sunday (March 29) at 10 a.m. both days.
Photo Credit: Michigan Tech
