UIC tops YSU tennis in conference semifinal

Staff Report

West Lafayette, Ind.

The Youngstown State men’s tennis lost 4-3 to UIC in the Horizon League semifinals at Purdue’s Schwartz Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

UIC will play Cleveland State today in the championship.

At No. 1 doubles, Joao Garretto and Danylo Veremeichuk beat Johan Hedstrom and Kasper Parlklo 6-4 for a YSU (12-8) win. At No. 3, UIC’s Marcelo Dib and Pelle Strandberg beat Yossi Dahan and Pol Virgili Blanco 6-4.

At No. 2, Nico Wasilewicz and William Wale beat YSU’s Luke Purser and Vasilis Vardakis 7-5.

UIC’s (7-14) Kaliash Panchapakesan defeated Dahan 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.

Vardakis beat Wasilewicz 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to claim No. 2. At No. 1, Veremeichuk overcame a slow start tow defeat Hedstrom 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).

At No. 6, Pelle Strandberg defeated YSU’s Erik Gran 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5). At No. 4, Luke Pursuer beat UIC’s Anthony Nguyen 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The remaining match came down to No. 3 between Garretto and Parlklo.

Garretto opened with a 6-3 win before dropping the second set, 6-4.

Down 5-4 and 40-30, Garretto fought off two match points to tie the contest at five apeice. Parlklo held serve and Garretto was on serve trailing 6-5.

Down 15-0, an apparent service was called just out and then Garretto double faulted to fall behind 30-15. He battled back to tie the contest at 30-30 before falling down 40-30.

On the final point Garretto appeared to hit a forehand winner down the line forcing a deuce point, but Parlklo called it out and for a 7-5 set win.