KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan men's tennis team won eight of nine matches to defeat DePaul, 6-1, at West Hills Athletic Club Sunday afternoon.
The Broncos' (4-1) regionally-ranked No. 9 doubles team, Alex Birchmeier and Bryan Norville, took first to the board with an 8-2 win at No. 1, while freshman doubles partners Michael Calderone and Kazuya Komada won 8-5 at No. 2 to allow the Broncos to take the first match point against the DePaul Blue Demons (1-2). Finally, Kevin Hayward and Casey Cullen fought tough to win with a score 9-8, (7-4).
Hayward was found off the court first after defeating Austin Doerner, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 1 singles. Birchmeier, had a tough fight during singles when he was found across from DePaul's Jose Moncada adding tough shots and many slices that Birchmeier could not control and fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Calderone won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 singles and Komada won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 4, along with Norville winning at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-4. Finally, Alejandro Staub showed his stamina against DePaul's Ben Hartman after defeating him 4-6, 6-4 (10-6) to round out the scoring for the Broncos.
The Brown and Gold will play their first Mid-American Conference game against Chicago State Saturday, Feb. 9th at noon followed by another game against Kalamazoo College at 5 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
DePaul vs Western Michigan
Jan 26, 2008 at Kalamazoo, Mich.
#59 Western Michigan 6, DePaul 1
Singles competition
1. #30 Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Austin Doerner (DEP) 6-1, 6-3
2. #21 Jose Moncada (DEP) def. Alex Birchmeier (WMU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Bryan Norville (WMU) def. Alasdair Graetz (DEP) 6-4, 6-4
4. Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Vanja Grgec (DEP) 7-5, 6-2
5. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Bartosz Jozwiak (DEP) 6-4, 6-3
6. Alejandro Staub (WMU) def. Ben Hartman (DEP) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
Doubles competition
1. #9 Alex Birchmeier/Bryan Norville (WMU) def. #15 Austin Doerner/Jose Moncada (DEP) 8-2
2. Michael Calderone/Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Bartosz Jozwiak/Vanja Grgec (DEP) 8-5
3. Casey Cullen/Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Alasdair Graetz/Adam Williams (DEP) 9-8 (7-4)
Match Notes:
DePaul 2-2
Western Michigan 4-1; National ranking #59
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,5,4,3,6)
Rankings are ITA Midwest Region Rankings
