By: Jake Timm (@GBJakeT)
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – For the first time in program history, Green Bay men's tennis defeated Marquette 5-2 Sunday.
The Phoenix (8-3) claimed five of the six singles matches after dropping the doubles point to the Golden Eagles (5-6). Junior Howard Scott (Exeter, England) was the first Green Bay singles player to secure his match, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.
“In a match like this when the teams are even, to lose a doubles point, you're in the hole,” said coach Mark Thomas. “I'm extremely confident in these guys. We've been in that situation a number of times this year, we've learned from it, and the guys finished strong today.”
Junior Joey Leto (Downers Grove, Ill.) was the next Phoenix player to claim victory, winning at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-2, and tying the match at 2-2.
Senior Michael Tenzer (Neuried, Germany) ended his match at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-4 win to give Green Bay a 3-2 match lead that it would not relinquish.
At No. 4 singles, freshman Florian Kraenzler (Puchheim, Germany) battled in both sets and came away victorious by a score of 7-5, 7-5, giving Green Bay the match victory.
“I'm very proud of the team and was very happy to clinch,” said Kraenzler.
No. 2 singles was the last match to finish, with Green Bay junior Leopold Gomez Islinger (Weiden, Germany) bouncing back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The win was not only Green Bay's first over Marquette, it was also Thomas's 100th career coaching victory.
“We have a great assistant coach, a great support staff and great players,” said Thomas. “They're committed to our goals, and it's fun to do this. It's fun to be a college tennis coach and I'm happy to get the 100th win.”
The team has a week off before once again taking to the road. Green Bay will next be in action on Saturday, Feb. 28, when it travels to Louisville, Ky. for matches against No. 42 Louisville and IUPUI.
Green Bay 5 – Marquette 2
Singles
No. 1 Michael Tenzer (GB) def. Vukasin Teofanovic (MU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 Leopold Gomez Islinger (GB) def. Daniel Fernandez (MU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Howard Scott (GB) def. Nick Dykema (MU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 Florian Kraenzler (GB) def. Andre Romanello (MU) 7-5, 7-5
No. 5 Kristiyan Trukov (MU) def. Joshua Schramm (GB) 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 Joey Leto (GB) def. Gleb Sklyr (MU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 Vukasin Teofanovic/Daniel Fernandez (MU) def. Michael Tenzer/Howard Scott (GB) 6-4
No. 2 Nick Dykema/Kristiyan Trukov (MU) def. Michael Tebon/Joey Leto (GB) 7-6
No. 3 Leopold Gomez Islinger/Florian Kraenzler (GB) def. Andre Romanello/Gleb Sklyr (MU) 6-4
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