Feb. 1, 2010

Final Stats

WACO, Texas- The sixth-ranked men's tennis team punched its ticket to the National Team Indoor Championships with a 7-0 win over the 38th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs on Monday at the Baylor Tennis Center. For the second straight day the Bears swept their ITA Kick-Off Weekend opponent, after taking care of No. 58 Iowa, 7-0, on Sunday.

The doubles point did not come easily to the Bears as they had to win a match tiebreaker to take the point. To leadoff the afternoon Sergio Ramirez and Attila Bucko took down Paul Chappell and Zach Nichols, 8-6. However, TCU responded as Emanuel Brighiu and Christopher Price came from behind to beat Denes Lukacs and Maros Horny in No. 1 singles, 9-8(7-4). The loss for the Bears set the stage for Julian Bley and Jordan Rux to pull out the doubles point with a come from behind win of their own over Soren Goritzka and Slah Mbarek 9-8(9-7).

"TCU does a lot of good things in doubles, I find them to be particularly well coached," head coach Matt Knoll said. "They did some things that made it tough on us. We were fortunate to get the doubles point certainly."

Baylor used the momentum from doubles to get off to a fast start in singles as the 11th-ranked Rux claimed the Bears first point when TCU's Brighiu retired after Rux had dominated the first set 6-1. Bucko followed Rux's win with a victory over Mbarek 6-2, 6-2. It was the senior's fourth victory in as many matches. At the No. 1 singles spot Lukacs clinched the match for the Bears with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win over Marius-Adri Cirstea.

"As competitive as the doubles were that may have helped us in the singles," Knoll said. "It was something of a wakeup call. We knew we were a little lucky to get the doubles and I think we came out and were a little more focused in the singles."

With the match decided the rest of the night for the Bears was about making history. Dominik Mueller was next to close out his match defeating Nichols 7-6(7-2), 6-3. It was Mueller's 100th career singles win, making him one of only eight Bears to reach the century mark in singles play.

"It is a lot harder to do than you think," Knoll said of Mueller's accomplishment. "I look around the country and there are some great teams that don't have but one or two (players with 100 career victories). It is a big deal. It says a lot about his competitiveness and certainly his durability. He has been a superstar since he got here. I am proud of him and I am really impressed."

Ramirez followed Mueller with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Goritzka that left newcomer Roberto Maytin as the only Bear on the court. Maytin made the most of the opportunity, cruising to a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Christopher Price for his first career singles win.

The win boosts Baylor's record to 4-0, while dropping TCU to 3-1. The Bears still trail in all-time series 31-17, but have beaten their old SWC rival nine straight times now.

"If you are going to be a special team you got to jump on the team's you are better than and try to dominate," Knoll said. "It is great that we have played four matches and three of them have been shut outs. I think that is a good sign."

The Bears will now host a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 3 against SMU at 3 p.m. and Texas-Pan American at 7 p.m.

"Last year SMU beat us in the doubles," Knoll said. "I think they are another team that is particularly well coached in the doubles, so that will be a challenge for us. Roberto will get his first chance to play doubles, which is great for him and us. I think you will see some different guys out there. Certainly we are going to try to win every match and compete as hard as we can and get a little better. Just another chance early in the season to get more matches in."

#6 Baylor Bears 7, #38 TCU 0
Feb 01, 2010 at Waco, Texas (Baylor Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Denes Lukacs (BU) def. Cirstea, Marius-Adri (TCUM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
2. #11 Jordan Rux (BU) def. Brighiu, Emanuel (TCUM) 6-1, retired
3. Attila Bucko (BU) def. Mbarek, Slah (TCUM) 6-2, 6-2
4. Sergio Ramirez (BU) def. Goritzka, Soren (TCUM) 6-4, 6-3
5. Dominik Mueller (BU) def. Nichols, Zach (TCUM) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
6. Roberto Maytin (BU) def. Price, Christopher (TCUM) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Brighiu, Emanuel/Price, Christopher (TCUM) def. Denes Lukacs/Maros Horny (BU) 9-8 (7-4)
2. Jordan Rux/Julian Bley (BU) def. Goritzka, Soren/Mbarek, Slah (TCUM) 9-8 (9-7)
3. Sergio Ramirez/Attila Bucko (BU) def. Chappell, Paul/Nichols, Zach (TCUM) 8-6

Match Notes
TCU 3-1; National ranking #38
Baylor Bears 4-0; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,3,1,5,4,6)
ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship