By Catherine Laroche
The University of Louisville men’s tennis team dominated in state rivals Morehead State University and Murray State University in 7-0 wins over both teams last weekend at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. They also took down Big East opponent Marquette University 6-1 Sunday afternoon.
“I thought the team did a good job,” U of L men’s tennis coach Rex Ecarma said. “They didn’t try to make ESPN SportsCenter, but played high percentage tennis. They did what good teams do: get up quickly and finish decisively. When I previewed this match, I felt the returning players were prepared to show well and every single one of them did. I’m very proud.”
The Cardinals started their long Friday against Morehead with the freshman duo of Austen Childs and Simon Childs jumping to an 8-2 victory. Sophomores David Simon and Kenneth Nordheim claimed an 8-6 win at the No. 2 spot, while senior Pablo Camacho and junior Robert Rotaru won the No. 3 spot 9-8.
Louisville swept the singles points in straight sets. Austen Childs won 6-1, 6-0 in the top spot, while Simon Childs picked up a 6-0, 6-3 victory at No. 2. Rotaru won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5.
Just three hours after U of L (3-0) defeated Morehead, they were ready to begin the second match of their doubleheader against Murray State.
The Cards began the match by sweeping the doubles point. Simon and Nordheim won 8-4 at No. 1, while Austen Childs and sophomore Ben Clos took an 8-7 victory at the two-spot. Camacho and Rotaru won 8-4 at No. 3.
In singles action, Austen Childs gained a 6-0, 6-1 win at the top spot, while Simon won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2. Freshman Viktor Maksimcuk came out on top 6-3, 6-1 at the three-spot, while Rotaru picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4. Freshman Alejandro Calligari won 6-3, 6-2 at the five-spot. Clos ended the match with a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 6.
On Sunday, the Cardinals lost their only point of the weekend in the fifth singles match when Rotaru was ousted by Golden Eagle Mark Rutherford. Rotaru redeemed himself, clinching the doubles point along with Camacho. The Cardinals also picked up points from Austen and Simon Childs, Simon, Maksimcuk and Nordheim.
“I see my teammates playing well and I know we can improve as we get experience,” sophomore Tim Barnoud said. “With time, only improvement can come. The freshmen are stepping up, which is very good for us. It makes our expectations high in winning a conference championship this year. We’re trying to do things we haven’t done before. Everyone’s practicing hard and playing well.”
The Cardinals are getting ready for another double-header on Friday against Western Kentucky University at 12 p.m. and the University of Dayton at 6 p.m. Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.
The Hilltoppers will open their 2008 season at Louisville, while the Flyers (2-1) are coming off a 5-2 victory over Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Dayton senior James O’Connell and junior David Peyton are threats on the singles and doubles spectrum. O’Connell teamed with sophomore Matt Sherman for a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles against IUPUI, and also tallied a victory at the No. 3 singles spot. Peyton won his singles match against the Jaguars 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4, and with help from sophomore teammate Michael Rohana he won the doubles match 9-8.
“I know those are two teams that are trying to build solid tennis programs,” Ecarma said of WKU and Dayton. “It’s going to be a test for us because we’re playing them both on the same day. They’re just playing us. They’ll have fresh legs against us. By our second match we’ll probably be a little fatigued, but that’s what I want to challenge our team in: Can you perform when your body is very tired? So, that’s the logic of that double-header.”
Following the Hilltoppers and Flyers, the Cards are looking forward to a rematch with Big East foe the University of Notre Dame after losing to the Fighting Irish in the Big East Tournament last season. U of L will travel to Notre Dame on April 13.
“They’re our biggest rivals,” Rotaru said of Notre Dame. “They took us down last year in the conference tournament, but I have a lot of confidence in us this year.”
Although the Cardinals look to tame the Fighting Irish, ultimately, they hope to win the Big East Tournament and make a run in the NCAA Sweet 16.
“We just want to go out there and improve as a team,” Barnoud said. “I want to win a conference championship and make the Sweet 16. I think that with the way the team is playing we can do that, as long as we stick together. We’re playing well and fighting for each other, and that’s why we’re having great success.”
