Box Score vs. Toledo

Box Score vs Case Western Reserve

Freshman Cesar Escobar Serrano (Merliot, El Salvador/Educame) went 4-0 and Detroit rebounded from losing the doubles point against Toledo to post a pair of victories on the day, defeating the Rockets, 4-3, before dispatching Case Western Reserve, 5-2, on Sunday. The match was played at the Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Maumee, OH. 

“We have been close a few times this year and we have come up short, but today, the guys really stepped up and elevated themselves,” said head coach Grant Asher. “To beat an established program like Toledo says a lot about where we are as a program.” 

The match against Toledo came down to the final singles battle as Serrano dropped the first set 6-3, before charging back to win the match, his first collegiate singles win, 6-2, 6-4 over Gursher Harika to secure the UDM victory. 

“He stayed aggressive and followed the game plan,” said Asher. “The match came down to him and he was able to play extremely composed and get us the win.” 

The Titans (3-4) lost the doubles points against Toledo (2-4) as Serrano and senior Patrick Troy (Beverly Hills, MI/Brother Rice) combined for the only win with an 8-4 decision at No. 2. 

Detroit would then edge out the Rockets by winning four of the six singles matches, three of them in straight-set sweeps. Senior Pjotrs Necajevs (Riga, Latvia/Herdera Vidusskola) got the winning started with a 6-3, 6-2 tally over Sven Burus at No. 1, while freshman Alex Latosinsky (Sarnia, ON/St. Christopher's) downed Leo Sarria 6-1, 6-1, at the third spot. Freshman Chris Cheung (Mississauga, ON/Erindale Secondary) got the third point with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Leonardo Henriques. 

The Titans carried that momentum right into their next match against a Division III team that has defeated some Division I programs in the past, including Robert Morris this season and Butler last year.
Serrano and Troy once again posted a win at No. 2 (8-4), while Cheung and sophomore David Stabley (Utica, MI / Eisenhower) cruised to an 8-1 victory. 

The red, white and blue then turned away the upset-minded Spartans, winning four of six singles matches. 

Necajevs raced past John Smetona 6-1, 6-2, in the top position and Latosinsky held off Rohan Patel 6-4, 7-6 (3) at No. 3. Serrano won his second singles match of the day, 6-0, 6-3, over Sean Carr and Cheung rallied past Richard Brunsting, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. 

“Coming off a tough physical and mentally challenging match like Toledo, it is tough to just regroup and play again in 20 minutes,” said Asher. “I told the guys they had two minutes to celebrate and then we needed to refocus against a very good team that has beaten Division I teams before.”

The Titans return home for a match against Wayne State on Friday. The contest is set for 7:00 p.m., at the Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield.