By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Led by stellar play in singles, Green Bay (15-6, 5-0 HL) defeated Wright State (12-9, 3-1 HL) 5-2 in men's tennis action on Saturday afternoon, staying perfect in conference play and clinching at least a share of the program's first Horizon League regular season title in the process. Held at Western Racquet and Fitness Club, it was the final home match of the season for the Phoenix.
The Phoenix will look to win the Horizon League title outright with a win against Detroit in its regular season finale on Sunday, April 21 in Valparaiso, Ind. Green Bay will then defend its tournament title from 2012 at the Horizon League Championship in Indianapolis from April 26-28.
Wright State took the match's first point by winning two of the three doubles matches, but as has been the case throughout its run through the Horizon League schedule, Green Bay's singles play was dominant. The Phoenix entered Saturday with a combined singles record of 21-3 in league action.
Senior Craig Cox (Surrey, England) and freshmen Howard Scott (Exeter, England) and Leopold Gomez Islinger (Weiden, Germany) posted the first singles wins in straight sets as Green Bay took a 3-1 lead. Cox posted a 6-4, 6-2 win at #3 singles, Gomez Islinger earned a 6-3, 6-1 victory at #4 and Howard Scott breezed to a 6-4, 6-1 win at #5.
Freshman Rowan Isaaks (London, England) clinched the match at #6 singles, breaking the serve of Dan Hyman up 6-5 to claim a 6-4, 7-5 win.
With the match decided, sophomore Michael Tenzer (Neuried, Germany) was looking to stay perfect in league play at #1 singles and strengthen his bid for Horizon League Player of the Year. Tenzer fell behind 5-0 and lost the opening set before rallying past WSU junior Hayden Joblin 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Tenzer teamed with freshman Joey Leto (Downers Grove, Ill.) for the lone doubles win of the afternoon for the Phoenix as the duo claimed a 9-7 win at #3 doubles.
Singles
No. 1 – Michael Tenzer (GB) def. Hayden Joplin (WSU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 – Lauri Makikalli (WSU) def. Erik Finkenbrink (GB) 6-7, 6-3, 1-0
No. 3 – Craig Cox (GB) def. Michal Lyzwa (WSU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 – Leopold Gomez Islinger (GB) def. Ricardo Pineda (WSU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 – Howard Scott (GB) def. Jamison Clark (WSU), 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 – Rowan Isaaks (GB) def. Dan Hyman (WSU), 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
No. 1 – Joblin/Clark (WSU) def. Finkenbrink/Cox (GB), 9-7
No. 2 – Makikalli /Lyzwa (WSU) def. Scott/Tebon (GB), 8-4
No. 3 – Tenzer/Leto (GB) def. Newman/Pineda (WSU), 9-7
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