Columbus, Ohio – #15 Arizona fell 2-4 to #3 Ohio State in the NCAA Super Regional match on Saturday, May 13. The Wildcats gave their best efforts in a gritty 3.5 hour match against the Buckeyes and a rowdy crowd of OSU fans.
Despite dropping the doubles point, Arizona battled to win two singles matches and push the final courts to three sets. #70 Jonas Ziverts and Jay Friend were bested 3-6 by OSU’s #21 Robert Cash and Justin Boulais at one doubles before Buckeyes Cannon Kingsley and JJ Tracy defeated Arizona tandem Gustaf Strom and Eric Padgham 6-3 on court three.
It was an absolute battle on all six singles courts with all but one match going to completion. Arizona freshman Dominque Rolland fell 3-6 in straight sets to Jack Anthrop at six singles then Friend put Arizona on the board with a ranked win against #41 Alexander Bernard on court five. The freshman Wildcat only let up one game in the first set then finished off the Buckeye 6-4 in the second. Next off the courts was #55 Smith who picked up another ranked and straight set win at one singles. Smith defeated #24 Boulais 6-4, 7-5 to tie up the overall score.
Then all eyes turned to courts two, three and four where Arizona pushed each match to three sets. #40 Ziverts fell 5-7 in the first then came back 7-5 in the second after a big break against #11 Kingsley at two singles. The fifth-year captain then fell 3-6 to the Buckeye seconds before #22 JJ Tracy clinched the victory for OSU against #114 Strom on court three. The Swede dropped his first set 3-6 then battled back 6-2 in the second and ultimately fell 6-4. Strom played consistently in the No. 3 lineup spot and ended his season with an impressive dual record of 19-3.
Arizona Men’s Tennis had an outstanding season, winning back-to-back Pac-12 regular season championships, hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, their second-ever Sweet 16 appearance and maintaining a perfect 14-0 record at home. While the team has completed its post-season run, two Wildcats have punched their tickets to the NCAA Individual Championship tournament in Orlando, Fla. Ziverts will make his third appearance at the tournament and Smith will make his debut on Monday, May 22. The individual bracket has yet to be announced.
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