Tennis Huskies Split Opening Rounds at GLIAC Tournament

MIDLAND, Mich. — Eighth-seeded Michigan Tech will play for fifth place at the GLIAC Men's Tennis Tournament tomorrow after splitting its opening two matches at Midland Community Tennis Center. The Huskies lost to top-seeded Northwood 5-2 last night (Apr. 25) before defeating Tiffin 5-4 tonight.

The GLIAC Tournament has not gone according to seed, with No. 7 Findlay advancing to the championship and the seventh-place match featuring the Nos. 2 and 5 seeds.

Tech couldn't pull the upset in round 1 despite a 2-1 lead after doubles. Felipe Dos Santos and Pedro Rodriguez, who are the region's top-ranked doubles team, earned an 8-3 win at No. 1. Javier Oliveros and Jimmy Konarske were also victorious for the Huskies with an 8-5 decision at No. 2.

Northwood claimed the No. 3 doubles point as well as the first four singles matches completed to end the match. Nick Kremkow had the closest of the matches with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 5.

Michigan Tech regrouped for a big win over fifth-seeded Tiffin today, exacting a little revenge from a 5-4 loss to the Dragons just two weeks ago. The teams are so evenly matched that despite having the exact same matchups at every position, five of the nine flights had different results from the April 13 meeting.

The Black and Gold again grabbed a 2-1 lead after doubles thanks to their top two flights earning victories.

The Huskies then managed to split the singles matches, winning all three of the two-set matches and losing three three-set affairs. Oliveros was a 6-2, 6-3 winner at No. 2; Rodriguez was a 6-3, 6-4 victor at No. 3; and Kremkow came out on top 7-5, 6-4 at No. 5.

Michigan Tech, which has improved its overall record to 10-10, will have a chance to finish the season above .500 with a win tomorrow. The Huskies close out their 2014 campaign against No. 6-seeded Grand Valley State at 8:30 a.m.