Northwood Men's and Women's Tennis Teams Advance to NCAA D-II Round of 16
MIDLAND, Mich. - The Northwood University men's and women's tennis teams posted victories on Friday and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament Round of 16. The NU women's team earned a 5-2 win over Wayne State, while the NU men posted a 5-4 triumph over Southern Indiana at the Midland Community Tennis Center on Friday (May 7).
Women's Tennis: NU 5, WSU 2
The Timberwolves jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in doubles, dropping a total of just three games in winning at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. WSU bounced back to earn an 8-4 win at the No. 1 slot to send the match to singles with Northwood leading 2-1.
Northwood came out strong in singles as well, earning two fast wins at the five and six positions to make the score 4-1. WSU posted its second point of the day with a straight set victory at No. 2 singles, but Northwood senior Darina Berkova clinched the Timberwolves' victory with a 6-0, 7-5 win at the No. 1 slot.
Northwood improves to 17-1 overall with the victory. Wayne State's season comes to an end at 16-6.
NU will now travel to the Round of 16, which will take place May 12 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Timberwolves will face Queens College (N.Y.) in a 10:30 a.m. match.
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Championship Bracket
Men's Tennis: NU 5, USI 4
After Northwood opened the day with a win at No. 1 doubles, the Screaming Eagles bounced back to win at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles. The Timberwolves' 8-4 win at No. 1 singles featured two nationally ranked duos in No. 22 Peter Kazianschuetz and Frederic Schoelzel (NU) and No. 21 Joe Boesing and Diego Gimenez (SI).
The Timberwolves came out hot in singles, winning the first three matches to put themselves within one victory of advancing at 4-2. But USI fought back, claiming victories at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions to even the score.
The final match on was at No. 5 singles, featuring Max Dutios of Northwood and Robert Nieters of Southern Indiana. Dutios won the first set 6-4, followed by Nieters taking the second set 6-3. It appeared the Screaming Eagles were going to advance to the round of 16 when Nieters opened up a 5-1 lead in the third and final set, but Dutios battled back. He won the final six games, breaking Nieters' serve three times in the process to send the Timberwolves on in the tournament.
Northwood improves to 15-4 overall. Southern Indiana's season comes to an end at 20-5 overall.
Northwood will compete in the round of 16 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. May 12. NU will face Western New Mexico at 1:30 p.m.
