FLUSHING, N.Y.– Arizona made an appearance for the first time in program history for the first at the ITA National Indoor Championship. The Wildcats have secured their spot in the next round of play after taking down No.3 Texas 4-2.
The Wildcats earned the doubles point, gaining a 1-0 lead to begin the match. Doubles pair Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham started off the weekend for the Wildcats defeating their opponents 6-4. Following not far after, No.53 Senior Freshmen duo, Gustaf Strom and Alexander Rozin, obtained the 1-0 lead for Arizona after a 6-3 win to secure the doubles point.
No.5 Colton Smith, No.43 Jay Friend, No.47 Gustaf Strom, Nick Lagaev, and No.116 Herman Hoeyeraal represented Arizona in the singles line-up. Captain Lagaev defeated No.53 Pierre-Yves Bailly to earn himself a straight-set win 6-3, 6-4 and extend the Wildcats lead 2-0.
The following matches played into three-sets. Smith and Friend fell to No.1 Eliot Spizzirri and No.2 Micah Braswell tying the score 2-2.
Strom was the fourth court to finish gaining back Arizona’s lead after dominating in a 6-4, 3-6, 6–2 victory. Clinching the match was Hoeyeraal in a tie-breaker against Cleeve Harper. After Harper took the first set 6-4, Hoeyeraal came back in the second-set 6-4, and secured the 4-2 lead after a tie-breaker score 7-6(5).
Arizona will move on to the next round against the winner of the match between Wake Forest and Michigan tomorrow, Saturday, February 17 at 4:30 PM (MST).
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