Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
DePaul*
Men's Tennis Drops First BIG EAST Match
2/23/2006 12:00:00āÆAM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 21, 2006
MILWAUKEE - Despite winning the doubles point, the Marquette men's tennis team was not able to defeat DePaul tonight at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium, losing 5-2.
Stephen Shao and Trent Hagan got an early victory at no. 3, beating George Wang and Danny Wilson, 8-0. The Golden Eagles dropped the no. 1 spot, when Eigis Vedrickas and Ian Kawas lost to the Blue Demon's Eric Huffman and Austin Doerner, 8-0. The point was determined at no. 2, when Pete Van Lieshout and Brett Binkley defeated Jack Komar and Will Wang, 8-6.
"We showed a lack of toughness tonight," head coach Steve Rodecap said. "We came out and won the doubles point but were not able closeout matches in singles. Our guys were tight and came out flat."
The only singles point for Marquette came from Greg Sirotek at no. 6, when he dropped the first set, won the second to force a third. Depaul's Will Wang had to retire due to injury at the start of the third.
Seniors, Vedrickas and Kawas, lost their matches at no. 1 and no. 2, leaving the Golden Eagles with little hope of recovering.
"Our seniors need to lead by example and we didn't get that from them tonight," Rodecap said. "Our younger players look to them for momentum."
Hagan, put up a fight at no. 3, losing the first set 6-4, but coming back in the second to win 3-6. He was not able to take the third, falling 6-2 to Komar.
"I was shocked at the way we played tonight," said Rodecap. "I felt good going into the match with the match-ups. DePaul was gritty and we didn't stand up to their toughness."
Marquette will return to the court on Friday to closeout an eight match home stand, when they take on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at 5 p.m.
-COMPLETE RESULTS-
Singles No. 1-Eric Huffman (DePaul) def. Eigis Vedrickas (MU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2-George Wang (DePaul) def. Ian Kawas (MU) 7-6(5), 6-0
No. 3-Jack Komar (DePaul) def. Trent Hagan (MU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
No. 4-Austin Doerner (DePaul) def. Brett Binkley (MU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 5-Danny Wilson (DePaul) def. Stephen Shao (MU) 7-5, 6-3
No. 6-Greg Sirotek (MU) def. Will Wang (DePaul) 5-7, 6-1, 2-0 ret
Doubles
No. 1-Huffman/Doerner (DePaul) def. Vedrickas/Kawas (MU) 8-0
No. 2-Van Lieshout/Binkley (MU) def. Komar/W. Wang (DePaul) 8-6
No. 3-Shao/Hagan (MU) def. G. Wang/Wilson (DePaul) 8-0
Players Mentioned
