COLUMBUS, Ohio?Sophomore Bruno Agostinelli upset the nation?s top ranked player Steven Moneke, in the No. 37 Wildcats? 6-1, loss to No. 2 Ohio State on Monday night at the Wickertree Tennis and Fitness Center.
Ohio State entered the match with an unblemished record at 6-0, and had yet to yield even a single point to any of its opponents.
No. 89 Agostinelli entered the match with the top ranked player with a 0-2 record after returning from a foot injury. The Wildcat took the first set 6-4. Moneke fired back with a 6-4 win of his own setting up a third and final set to determine the No. 1 singles spot. Agostinelli rumbled to a 6-3 win, handing Moneke just his fifth loss on the season.
“We really felt like this was the first time that Bruno was back playing at 100 percent after his injury,” said Coach Dennis Emery. “It was a great win for him to defeat the number one guy in the nation.”
Despite Agostinelli?s valiant first win of the season, no other Wildcat was able to defeat a powerful Buckeye lineup that sports four players rated in the top 70 in the nation.
The home squad took the opening doubles match, winning at No. 1 and No. 3. Drew Eberly and Justin Kronauge downed Agostinelli and Kenny Hodge 8-4. In No. 3 doubles, junior Marcus Sundh and freshman Roman Ogarkov fell 8-4 to Moneke and Bryan Koniecko.
Senior Peter Bjork and junior Will Ward?s match with the No. 22 ranked doubles squad was suspended, with Chris Klingemann and Devin Mullings leading 5-4.
Ward and Bjork playing at No. 2 and No. 3 singles respectively, each took their opponent to three sets, a feat that has only been accomplished nine times this season against Ohio State.
No. 62 Koniecko earned the first set against Ward, 6-4. Ward took the second set in commanding fashion with a 6-1 victory. The third set stretched to 13 points, with Koniecko finally edging Ward 7-6.
Unlike his teammate, Bjork picked up a first-set victory taking a 6-1 win over #42 Mullings in the third singles slot. Mullings then won set two with a 6-3 decision. The third set was decided much like the No. 2 singles? match, as Bjork forced Mullings into a tight match until the Buckeye prevailed 7-6.
“It was really a great college match,” said Emery. “They took us out of doubles, but we played great in our top four singles spots.”
Junior Marcus Sundh fell for the first time this season with a two-set loss to #46 Klingemann, 6-3, 7-6. Ogarkov appeared at the No. 5 singles spot for the first time this season, and fell to #69 Kronauge 6-0, 6-1. Hodge fell to #64 Eberly, 6-0, 6-1.
Kentucky (2-3, 0-0) returns to action with a doubleheader at home on Saturday. The Blue and White will welcome Ball State at 1 p.m. and Butler at 6 p.m., at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.
No. 2 Ohio State 6, No. 37 Kentucky 1
Singles Results
1. Bruno Agostinelli (UK) def. #1 Steve Moneke (OSU/23-5) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
2. #62 Bryan Koniecko (OSU/12-4) def. Will Ward (UK) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6
3. #42 Devin Mullings (OSU/17-3) def. Peter Bjork (UK) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6
4. #46 Chris Klingemann (OSU/16-3) def. Marcus Sundh (UK) 6-3, 7-6
5. #69 Justin Kronauge (OSU/11-4) def. Roman Ogarkov (UK) 6-0, 6-1
6. #64 Drew Eberly (OSU/9-3) def. Kenny Hodge (UK) 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 2, 1, 3
Doubles Results
1. Drew Eberly/Justin Kronauge (OSU) def. Bruno Agostinelli / Kenny Hodge (UK) 8-4
2. #22 Chris Klingemann/Devin Mullings (OSU) led Will Ward/Peter Bjork (UK) def. 5-4
3. Steven Moneke/Bryan Koniecko (OSU) def. Marcus Sundh/ Roman Ogarkov (UK) 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
