University of Denver
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Mississippi State
Pioneers Fall Just Short to MSU, 4-3
5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-- The No. 50 University of Denver men's tennis team (18-9) fought tooth and nail, but came up just short against No. 20 Mississippi State (20-7) Friday morning at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The Pioneers lost to the Bulldogs, 4-3.
The Bulldogs struck first squeaking out wins on doubles courts one and two. Both matches went into a tiebreak, 8-7 (12-10).
"I could not be more proud of this team," said Head Coach Danny Westerman. "We went toe to toe with a top 20 team and just a couple points short of the win."Â
MSU would score two quick wins to make the lead, 3-0. The Pioneers came roaring back with three straight wins of their own.
No. 114 Sophomore Diogo Rocha got Denver started with a, 6-0, 6-4 win over Juan Cruz Estevarena. The win over Cruz Estevarena would be Rocha's 21st on the season. Junior Henry Craig, ranked No. 112, followed Rocha's win with a, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 win of his own to push the score to, 3-2.
With the last two courts moving into a third set, sophomore Yannik James tied the match with a, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Tassilo Schmid.
The Bulldogs would hold off the Pioneers comeback when Rishab Agarwal narrowly defeated junior David Fox.
"The doubles point today was the most exciting I have ever been a part of," said Westerman. "We earned and saved multiple points on every court which was incredible. The singles was equally exciting but unfortunately we came up inches short. We proved to ourselves that we can be a top 25 team and I am excited to have this entire group back next to take our program to the next level."
#50 Denver Pioneers 3, No. 20 Mississippi State 4
May 8, 2015
Doubles competition
1. #6 Julian Cash/Florian Lakat (MS) def. CRAIG, Henry/GASSON, Alex (DEN) 8-7 (12-10)
2. Mate Cutura/Tassilo Schmid (MS) def. JAMES, Yannik/ROCHA, Diogo (DEN) 8-7 (12-10)
3. Juan Cruz Estevarena/Robin Haden (MS) vs. FOX, David/RUDER-HOOK, JESSE (DEN) 7-7 (2-3), unfinished
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Singles competition
1. Craig, Henry (DEN) def. #62 Florian Lakat (MS) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
2. Rocha, Diogo (DEN) def. Juan Cruz Estevarena (MS) 6-0, 6-4
3. Mate Cutura (MS) def. Gasson, Alex (DEN) 6-2, 6-4
4. Rishab Agarwal (MS) def. Fox, David (DEN) 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5
5. James, Yannik (DEN) def. Tassilo Schmid (MS) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
6. Julian Cash (MS) def. Lovera, Wyatt (DEN) 6-2, 6-4
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Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,2,1,5,4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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