INDIANAPOLIS – The third seeded Omaha men's tennis team lost a 4-1 decision to top seeded Denver in the Summit League Men's Tennis Championship final Saturday afternoon.
Alex Woodward claimed Omaha's lone point in the championship match by dispatching Ignatius Castellino in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
The Pioneers struck out for an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. Denver's Diogo Rocha and Jesse Ruder-Hook took a 6-3 decision over Woodward and Nathan Reekie. Pedro Del Valle and Wyatt Lovera clinched the point for the Pioneers with a 6-3 win at No. 3 over John Ellis and Louis-Jonas Heizlsperger.
Reekie dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to Rocha at No. 2. Heizlsperger lost 6-3, 6-1 at No. 5 before Ruder-Hook clinched the match with a 7-6 (2), 6-1 win over Buckley at No. 4.
The Mavericks finish the season at 9-14 (2-2 Summit League), while the Pioneers advance to the NCAA Tournament with a record of 13-12 (4-0 Summit League).
Denver 4, Omaha Mavericks 1 (Apr 29, 2017 at Indianapolis, Ind. (West Indy Racquet Club))
Singles
1. Yannik James (DEN/13.68) vs. #87 Razvan Grigorescu (OMAHA/13.29) 6-7 (4-7), 4-3, unfinished
2. Diogo Rocha (DEN/13.88) def. Nathan Reekie (OMAHA/11.99) 6-1, 6-1
3. Alex Gasson (DEN/13.25) vs. Matt Dunn (OMAHA/11.75) 7-5, 5-3, unfinished
4. Jesse Ruder-Hook (DEN/12.69) def. Colin Buckley (OMAHA/11.39) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
5. Pedro F. Del Valle (DEN/12.73) def. Louis-Jonas Heizlsperger (OMAHA/11.88) 6-3, 6-1
6. Alex Woodward (OMAHA/11.54) def. Ignatius Castellino (DEN/12.57) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. #87 Yannik James/Alex Gasson (DEN) vs. Razvan Grigorescu/Colin Buckley (OMAHA) 5-4, unfinished
2. Diogo Rocha/Jesse Ruder-Hook (DEN) def. Nathan Reekie/Alex Woodward (OMAHA) 6-3
3. Pedro F. Del Valle/Wyatt Lovera (DEN) def. John Ellis/ Louis-Jonas Heizlsperger (OMAHA) 6-3
Match Notes
Omaha Mavericks 9-14, 2-2
Denver 13-12, 4-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (2,6,5,4)
