Jan. 30, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Behind a gutsy performance by sophomore Alex Musialek, who played with severe leg cramps the entire third set, the No. 14 Kentucky men’s tennis team defeated No. 41 Michigan 4-2. With the win, UK advances to the championship match of ITA Kickoff Weekend Sunday.

After winning the first set 6-3, Musialek and No. 75 Evan King would go back-and-forth in the second set. With the set notched at 6-6, Musialek won the first four points of the tiebreaker and looked to be in line to win the set and end the match, but King mounted a comeback and won the tiebreaker 11-9.

Starting the third set, Musialek called for a trainer to get treatment on his cramping legs. Most of the third set, the native of Dax, France played on one leg hobbling to balls. Leading 5-4 in the third set and trailing 15-30 in the tenth game, King would double fault and allow Musialek to tie the game at 30. The sophomore lost the next point, but tied the match at 40 on a beautiful shot down the line. In the deuce, King gained advantage first, but Musialek would respond to send the game back to deuce. Finally, Musialek claimed the clinching UK point by winning back-to-back points, claiming the match 6-3, 6-7 (11-9), 6-4.

The Wildcats (3-1, 0-0) will play No. 16 Wake Forest (1-0) at 2 p.m. ET at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. Wake Forest beat No. 31 Minnesota (1-1) earlier Saturday 4-2. Michigan (1-2) will play Minnesota at 10 a.m. ET in the consolation match. Admission to the event is free and parking is also free inside parking structure seven on UK’s campus.

The Wildcats led the match from early on, getting their second straight doubles point of the season. Playing at No. 1 doubles for the second straight match, the eight ranked team of sophomore Eric Quigley and junior Brad Cox, started the wining for Kentucky grabbing an 8-4 victory over Michigan’s Jason Jung and Evan King. The UK duo, fell behind 2-0 in the match, but responded to take the next three sets. Quigley and Cox are now 2-0 on the season.  

Kentucky then claimed the doubles point when Frenchmen Musialek and Anthony Rossi defeated Chris Madden and Chris Cha from Michigan 8-4. Musialek, a sophomore, and Rossi, a freshman, have been brilliant in doubles this season posting back-to-back victories after claiming a doubles victory at Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

The No. 2 doubles match did not finish due to UK already claiming the doubles point. Michigan was leading the match 7-5 over UK’s Alex Lambropoulos and Alberto Gonzalez.

All six players that played doubles for both sides also played singles. Michigan would tie the match when senior Mike Sroczynski defeated Cox in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. But Kentucky would answer, getting the next two points of the match when UK’s Gonzalez posted an impressive straight sets victory at the No. 4 singles position. The native of Bradenton, Fla., made quick work of Madden 6-1 in the first set. The two played a back-and-forth second set before Gonzalez was able to get the best of Madden 7-5 and win the match 6-1, 7-5.

The Wildcats inched one point closer to clinching victory when sophomore Quigley posted a win over No. 50 Jung at the No. 1 singles position. Winning the first set 6-3, Quigley and Jung played a terrific second set where both players made big plays. After Quigley had a chance to close out the match, Jung responded to send the match to a tiebreaker. Quigley, a native of Pewee Valley, Ky., would dominate the tiebreaker and claim the straight sets victory 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Michigan scored its second point of the match at the No. 6 singles position when Cha defeated Lambropoulos 6-3, 6-2. Musialek would later end the match with his thrilling three-set win.

The No. 5 singles match did not finish between UK’s Rossi and Michigan’s George Navas. Rossi was up in the match 6-4, 5-4.

Agate

No. 16 Kentucky def. No. 41 Michigan 4-2

Singles
#1. No. 8 Eric Quigley (UK) def. No. 50 Jason Jung (Mich.) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
#2. No. 39 Alex Musialek (UK) def. No. 73  Evan King (Mich.) 6-3, 6-7 (11-9), 6-4
#3. Mike Sroczynski (Mich.) def. Brad Cox (UK) 6-4, 6-2
#4. Alberto Gonzalez (UK) def. Chris Madden (Mich.) 6-1, 7-5
#5. Anthony Rossi (UK) led George Navas (Mich.) 6-4, 5-4 DNF
#6. Chris Cha (Mich.) def. Alex Lambropoulos (UK) 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 4, 1, 6, 2*

Doubles
#1. No. 9 Eric Quigley/Brad Cox (UK) def. Jason Jung/Evan King (Mich.) 8-4
#2. George Navas/Mike Sroczynki (Mich.) led Alex Lambropoulos/Alberto Gonzalez (UK) 7-5 DNF
#3. Alex Musialek/Anthony Rossi (UK) def. Chris Madden/Chris Cha (Mich.) 8-4

Order of Finish: 1, 3