DETROIT (4/21/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's tennis teams will look to improve their playoff positioning this weekend as they wrap up the regular season on the road in Horizon League action at UIC and Valparaiso on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 22-23.
THE SCHEDULE
Saturday, Apr. 22 at Flames Outdoor Tennis Courts
11 a.m. – Titan women (9-10, 5-2 HL) vs. UIC (15-5, 6-1 HL)
3 p.m. – Titan men (10-11, 4-1 HL) vs. UIC (6-11, 0-6 HL)
Sunday, Apr. 23 at Valpo Tennis Complex
11 a.m. – Titan women vs. Valpo (2-16, 1-6 HL)
2 p.m. – Titan men vs. Valpo (20-3, 6-0 HL)
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Titan men and women have each clinched a spot in the Horizon League Tournament, set for April 28-30 from the University of Michigan. The men are currently tied for second at 4-1 and the women are in fourth place at 5-2.
The men's squad is 1.5 games behind Valparaiso, who they face on Sunday. The Titans can clinch at least the 3-seed with a win over UIC or Valpo and can finish no lower than fourth.
The women's team is one game back of YSU, Cleveland State and UIC, who are all 6-1 in league action. The Titans can fall no lower than fourth with the tiebreak over Oakland and Milwaukee.
Horizon League Standings:
Men I
Women
SCOUTING THE TITANS
The Men
Detroit Mercy has won four straight Horizon League matches after falling victim to a Green Bay comeback in their conference opener, 4-3. The Titans then reeled off wins over YSU, Cleveland State, Wright State and NKU to clinch a spot in the HL Tournament. The Titans' 10 wins are the most for the program since it was reinstated in 2009 and the most since the 1991 team had 11 wins.
Sophomore
Artem Vasheshnikov leads the squad with 19 singles wins, including eight wins from the Titans' top line. Junior
Nathan Ponton is 18-7 on the year and has been in strong form with an 8-2 record in his last 10 matches. Senior
Patryk Koscielski is undefeated in Horizon League play at 5-0 from the second singles line. In doubles, Ponton and Vasheshnikov are 4-1 from the top line to lead the way for the Titans.
The Women
The Titans enter the weekend at 9-10 overall and 5-2 in conference action. Detroit Mercy opened conference play with wins over Milwaukee and Green Bay, but stumbled in a pair of road defeats at YSU and Cleveland State. The Titans bounced back with three straight wins over Wright State, NKU and Oakland to clinch a spot in the HL Tournament.
Senior
Nynke Van Der Goot leads the squad with 15 singles wins and is 11-7 from the fourth and fifth positions. Classmate
Anna Davydova has 11 singles wins, including eight from the Titans' top line. Sophomore
Iris Thioux has 10 wins, followed by sophomore
Pauline Van Herck and freshman
Ksenia Providokhina with nine wins apiece. Van Herck leads Detroit Mercy with a 6-1 mark in conference singles action.
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
The Men
UIC enters the weekend at 6-11 overall and in search of their first HL win at 0-6 in league play. The Flames are 3-1 at home and are coming off a 5-2 win vs. Chicago State. Christian San Andres leads the team with 13 wins and is 4-2 in Horizon League action and Marcelo Dib has two wins in conference play.
The Women
The Flames enter the weekend at 15-5 and 6-1 in HL play. UIC has won five in a row and is 8-2 on their home court this season. Rachel Le Comber has won eight in a row and is 9-1 in her last 10, including a 7-0 mark in HL play. Miranda Rodriguez is 6-1 in conference action from the sixth line and Oana Manole is 4-3 from No. 1 singles to lead the way for UIC.
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
The Men
Valpo enters the weekend at 20-3 overall and undefeated in league play at 6-0. The Crusaders are 8-1 from home this season and have won three in a row over NKU, Wright State and Green Bay. Senior Jeffrey Schorsch has been a beast on the court for the Crusaders with an 18-1 record from the No. 1 singles line. Kyle Dunn has 24 singles wins on the season and a 6-0 mark in league action, followed by Dave Bacalla with 19 wins and a 5-1 record in the HL. Charlie Emhardt and Schorsch are ranked 28th nationally in doubles, while Schorsch is ranked 12th in the Midwest Region in singles.
The Women
Valparaiso enters the weekend at 2-16 overall and 1-6 in league action. The Crusaders have lost two in a row after edging Green Bay, 4-3, and are 1-6 at home this season. Randi Wind leads the team with 11 wins, followed by Meg Modesto with five. Kathleen Hebble and Paige Heuer lead the way in doubles with a 13-13 mark.
ON TAP
Following this weekend's action, the Titans return to action in the Horizon League Tournament from Ann Arbor, Mich., on Apr. 28-30.
