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 Adam Williams won his match at No. 4 singles helping WSU to a 5-4 upset win over Mercyhurst. |
May 5, 2005
Midland, Mich. - The Wayne State University men's tennis team, the No. 5 seed in the Great Lakes Region, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year with a 5-4 triumph over fourth-seeded Mercyhurst Friday in Midland.
The victory avenges two earlier losses to the Lakers (5-4 at Mercyhurst on Feb. 13, and 5-3 vs. Mercyhurst on April 15 in the first round of the GLIAC tournament).
Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, WSU posted straight-set singles victories at No. 1 (Sebastien Foka) and No. 5 (Mike Frolov), but lost in two sets at No. 2 (Glauber Santos) and No. 3 (Philip Tharakan) to trail 4-3 with two matches remaining.
Ryan Buck, at sixth singles, won the opening set 6-4 before falling 3-6 in the second set. Buck battled back to win the decisive third set in a tiebreaker to even the match at four wins apiece.
Adam Williams recorded a 6-2 victory in the first set at fourth singles. He lost the second set in a tiebreaker, 7-6, but rallied for a 7-5 triumph in the third set giving WSU the win.
Santos and Buck teamed for an 8-1 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Wayne State improves to 14-10 overall while Mercyhurst's season ends at 13-9.
WSU will face either regional host Northwood (No. 1 seed) or Indianapolis (No. 8 seed) at 9 a.m. on Friday in the regional final. The last three seasons (2002-03-04), Ferris State has defeated the Warriors in the round of 32.
