Wildcats Sweep Boise State in Opening-Round NCAA Victory

TUCSON – Ninth-ranked Arizona Men’s Tennis secured an NCAA Championships first-round victory on Friday, defeating No. 58 Boise State 4-0. 

 

First round sweep ??????#ArizonaTennis x #BearDown pic.twitter.com/3LNVVE044o

— Arizona Men’s Tennis (@ArizonaMTennis) May 3, 2024

Doubles play was close across all three courts, and all three went to tiebreakers. Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham secured their victory first, defeating Jett Middleton and Caden Moortgat 7-6(4).

As Hoeyeraal and Padgham concluded, courts one and two went to their respective tiebreakers. No. 46 Colton Smith and Jay Friend clinched the doubles point with their 7-6(2) takedown of Jan Lucca Marquardt and Sam Sippel.

All six first sets went to Arizona, led by No. 35 Friend’s 6-0 opening set. Friend went on to win the first singles point of the day, defeating James Van Herzeele 6-0, 6-3 on court two.

Casper Christensen claimed the next victory, cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 takedown of Middleton and putting the Cats a match away from clinching.

For the second consecutive match, Nick Lagaev clinched the team win. He defeated John Chin 6-4, 6-4 on court six for the final singles victory of the day.

Arizona will face No. 24 Auburn in its second round matchup. The Tigers defeated Pepperdine in a close 4-3 decision in the first round. Tyler Stice (No. 31) and Finn Murgett (No. 63) represent Auburn in the national singles rankings, and Murgett is additionally ranked in doubles with Raul Dobai at No. 21.

The Wildcats and Tigers will face off at 1:00 p.m. MST Saturday at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. Tickets will be available to purchase on-site for $5 each.

Results

#9 Arizona 4, #58 Boise State 0

Doubles Competition

Order of finish: 2, 1

1. #46 Colton Smith/Jay Friend def. Jan Lucca Marquardt/Sam Sippel 7-6(2)
2. Herman Hoeyeraal/Eric Padgham def. Jett Middleton/Caden Moortgat 7-6(4)
3. Sasha Rozin/Gustaf Strom vs. John Chin/James Van Herzeele 6-6(1-2)

Singles Competition

Order of finish: 2, 5, 6

1. #22 Colton Smith vs. #125 Sam Sippel 6-7(3), 3-2, unfinished
2. #35 Jay Friend def. James Van Herzeele 6-0, 6-3
3. #70 Gustaf Strom vs. Jan Lucca Marquardt 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
4. Herman Hoeyeraal vs. Idriss Haddouch 6-4, 5-7, 3-2, unfinished
5. Casper Christensen def. Jett Middleton 6-3, 6-2
6. Nick Lagaev def. John Chin 6-4, 6-4

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