North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Michigan
No. 23 Men's Tennis Defeats No. 17 Michigan in First Ranked Matchup of 2020
1/15/2020 9:22:00 PM | Men's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, MICH. - The No. 23 NC State men's tennis team got its first ranked win of the season Wednesday, defeating 17th-ranked Michigan on the road 4-3. The win improves the Wolfpack's record to 3-0 while the Wolverines fall to 0-1.
"Great win by the guys today," said head coach Kyle Spencer. "Really great performance up and down the lineup."
NC State struck first in doubles action as senior Alexis Galarneau and junior Robert Turzak defeated Michigan's Nick Beaty and Harrison Brown 6-4. The 5th-ranked doubles pair of Mattias Siimar and Andrew Fenty defeated No. 32 Tadas Babelis and Yannai Barkai, leaving the doubles point to be decided on court two.
Michigan clinched the doubles point in a 7-6(3) tiebreaker win by Connor Johnston and Ondrej Styler over Rafa Izquierdo Luque and Collin Shick.
NC State claimed the first singles point with Babelis' 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 94 Styler, but the Wolverines added to their team score with Siimar's 6-4, 6-2 win over Barkai and Beaty's 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Martins Rocens.
Izquierdo Luque was the next to victory, defeating Johnston 7-5, 6-4. Galarneau put the Wolfpack one point away from clinching with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win over No. 78 Fenty.
Turzak clinched the ranked win for NC State, gutting out a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) win over Harrison Brown.
V I C T O R Y#GoPack #PackRisin pic.twitter.com/ZleotpfDOd
— NC State Men's Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) January 16, 2020
HEAR FROM THE PACK: HEAD COACH KYLE SPENCER
"It's tough to lose the doubles point in a tiebreaker, but we bounced back and they really fought. It helped with Tadas Babelis getting a point on the board as well, and then of course Rafa Izquierdo Luque winning his first big match as a member of the Pack.
Then it came down to Alexis Galarneau against a red-hot Andrew Fenty, and Alexis does what he always does in that spot, which is come through with the goods. Then it was up to Robert Turzak, and I couldn't be more proud of Robert and how far he's come in his development to be able to handle that situation and shut the door in the match.
Just overall, a fantastic team effort by the guys. First big win of the season, and looking forward to Friday at Northwestern."
UP NEXT
The Wolfpack continues its time on the road with a match at Northwestern Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
RESULTS
No. 23 NC State 4, No. 17 Michigan 3
Doubles
Order of finish: (3, 1, 2)
1. No. 5 Mattias Siimar/Andrew Fenty (Michigan) def. No. 32 Tadas Babelis/Yannai Barkai (NC State) 6-4
2. Connor Johnston/Ondrej Styler (Michigan) def. Rafa Izquierdo Luque/Collin Shick (NC State) 7-6(3)
3. Alexis Galarneau/Robert Turzak (NC State) def. Nick Beaty/Harrison Brown (Michigan) 6-4
Singles
Order of finish: (2, 3, 6, 4, 1, 5)
1. Alexis Galarneau (NC State) def. No. 78 Andrew Fenty (Michigan) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
2. Tadas Babelis (NC State) def. No. 94 Ondrej Styler (Michigan) 6-3, 6-4
3. Mattias Siimar (Michigan) def. Yannai Barkai (NC State) 6-4, 6-2
4. Rafa Izquierdo Luque (NC State) def. Connor Johnston (Michigan) 7-5, 6-4
5. Robert Turzak (NC State) def. Harrison Brown (Michigan) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5)
6. Nick Beaty (Michigan) def. Martins Rocens (NC State) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
#GoPack | @PackMensTennis
Players Mentioned
