COLUMBUS, Ohio– In its first of two matches of the day, the fifth-ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team beat Big Ten Conference opponent Minnesota, 7-0, Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Courts in Columbus, Ohio. Playing at their outdoor home facility for the first time this season, the Buckeyes improved to 23-2 overall, including 7-0 in league play. Minnesota dropped to 9-9 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten.

 

The Buckeyes will host Wright State at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Varsity Tennis Center on 880 W. Henderson Road.

 

In the two-and-a-half hour match, the Scarlet and Gray clinched the doubles point in half an hour. The 27th-ranked duo of Ille Van Engelen and Devin McCarthy gave Ohio State the early advantage when they beat Rok Bonin and Pablo Ramirez, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles. Soon after, the Buckeye tandem of Peter Kobelt and Connor Smith, ranked 13th in the nation, handed Jack Hamburg and Mathieu Froment an 8-2 loss at the top position. After winning the doubles point for the 24th time this season en route to their 16th shutout of the campaign, Buckeyes Blaz Rola and Hunter Callahan completed the doubles sweep at No. 3 with an 8-2 victory vs. Leandro Toledo and Eric Frueh.

 

Up 1-0 heading into singles play, Ohio State jumped out to a 2-0 lead when McCarthy sealed his 19th win of the season (7-0 in Big Ten) on a 6-1, 6-3 win over Hamburg on court No. 3. Ranked 13th in the singles polls, Rola surrendered only two games when he beat Bonin, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1. Rola remains undefeated on the season with a 19-0 record, including a 14-0 mark at the top spot and 7-0 record in the conference. At No. 4 singles Smith clinched the team win for Ohio State with his 6-1, 6-3 win vs. Froment. Smith improves to 27-6 overall.

 

In continued action, Chris Diaz earned his 24th overall win and fifth Big Ten victory (5-0) when he downed Juan Pablo Ramirez, 6-2, 6-1 at five singles. After winning the first set 6-4, Kobelt was a 7-5 winner in the second set vs. Leandro Toledo and moved to 29-6 overall, including 6-0 in the league. Constantin Christ finished out play at six singles when he beat Ruben Weber, 6-1, 7-5. Christ now is 18-2 overall, which includes a 5-0 mark in the Big Ten.

 

Tennis Match Results

Minnesota vs. Ohio State

April 7, 2013 at Columbus, Ohio

(Varsity Tennis Courts)

 

#5 Ohio State 7, Minnesota 0

 

Singles competition

1. #13 Blaz Rola (OSU) def. #41 Rok Bonin (MINN) 6-2, 6-0

2. #4 Peter Kobelt (OSU) def. #100 Leandro Toledo (MINN) 6-4, 7-5

3. #83 Devin McCarthy (OSU) def. Jack Hamburg (MINN) 6-1, 6-3

4. #43 Connor Smith (OSU) def. Mathieu Froment (MINN) 6-1, 6-3

5. #59 Chris Diaz (OSU) def. Juan Pablo Ramirez (MINN) 6-2, 6-1

6. Constantin Christ (OSU) def. Ruben Weber (MINN) 6-1, 7-5

 

Doubles competition

1. #13 Peter Kobelt/Connor Smith (OSU) def. Jack Hamburg/Mathieu Froment (MINN) 8-2

2. #27 Ille Van Engelen/Devin McCarthy (OSU) def. Rok Bonin/Juan Pablo Ramirez (MINN) 8-1

3. Blaz Rola/Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Leandro Toledo/Eric Frueh (MINN) 8-2

 

Match Notes:

Minnesota 9-9 Ohio State 23-2;

National ranking #5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,1,4,5,2,6)

Official: Vince Solomon T-2:38 A-155