KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan men's tennis has opened its 2011 spring season with a second-consecutive shut out victory as the Broncos defeated Cleveland State, 7-0, on Friday afternoon at West Hills Athletic Club. Senior Brad Noel's straight-set victory was the clinching point for WMU's second-straight home win.
Western Michigan started the singles matches strong after earning the doubles point to start the dual match. Casey Cullen and Kazuya Komada made quick work of their opponents at the No. 5 and No. 2 singles matches, respectively. Cullen didn't drop a game in his first set, going on to win 6-0, 6-1. Komada dropped one game in his oppening set but was pushed further in the second before emerging victorius 6-1, 6-3.
Pablo Olivarez also dominated in his opening set, dropping one game but found himself down 3-0 mid way through the second set. He fought back, winning four-straight games. His opponent, Chris Klepatz, one the eighth game of the set but Olivarez shut the door, taking the final two games to win 6-1, 6-4.
Noel's match-clinching win came in straight sets. The senior battled through a grueling opening set, winning 6-4, and carried that momentum into the second set en route to a 6-1 win. Simon Blomberg had the longest match of the day, winning 6-4 to open the match before falling 6-3 in the second. Playing a super tie-breaker, Blomberg overpowered Robert Fox on his way to a 10-5 win in the tie breaker.
The most exciting match of the afternoon took place on Court #1. Michael Calderone dropped the first set, 6-3, to Yannick Goossens. Calderone built a 5-2 lead in the second set but Goossens served and volleyed his way into tying the set at six games apiece. Calderone emerged victorious in the second-set tie breaker, 9-7, and used that experience to take the super tie breaker, 10-8.
The doubles pair of Michael and Tomas Calderone clinched the doubles point for WMU, winning 8-6, after Cullen and Olivarez opened with an 8-2 win in the No. 3 doubles match.
The Broncos load up the bus and head to West Lafayette, Ind. for a match against Purdue tomorrow, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. The next home match for Western Michigan is Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. against Illinois-Chicago.
Western Michigan 7, Cleveland State 0
Singles competition
1. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Yannick Goossens (CSU) 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (10-8)
2. Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Matt Kuelker (CSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Simon Blomberg (WMU) def. Robert Fox (CSU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Pablo Olivarez (WMU) def. Chris Klepatz (CSU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Casey Cullen (WMU) def. John Haley (CSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Brad Noel (WMU) def. Matt Ford (CSU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Thomas Calderone/Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Robert Fox/John Haley (CSU) 8-6
2. Yannick Goossens/Matt Kuelker (CSU) def. Kazuya Komada/Zeyad Montasser (WMU) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Casey Cullen/Pablo Olivarez (WMU) def. Chris Klepatz/Matt Ford (CSU) 8-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,4,6,2,1,3)
T-3:15
