By Patrick Stumpf
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Appearing in its second-straight match against a nationally-ranked opponent in less than a week, the Green Bay men's tennis team (4-4) battled No. 23 Minnesota at the Baseline Tennis Center on Friday night in Minneapolis, falling, 5-2.
The Phoenix continued its strong play in doubles play, once again taking the point after previously doing so on Feb. 7 against No. 39 Drake to put a scare into yet another ranked opponent on the road.
After the Golden Gophers' pair of Matic Spec and Jeremy Lynn defeated Rowan Isaaks and Miles McDowall at No. 3 doubles, Green Bay's No. 1 and No. 2 pairs of Leo Gomez Islinger and Florian Kraenzler and Howard Scott and Joey Leto gave the Phoenix a 1-0 lead by picking up wins, 6-4 and 7-5, respectively.
In singles, Minnesota grabbed a 2-1 advantage by securing the first two wins at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, until Green Bay freshman Charlie Ridout beat Lynn at No. 6, 6-2, 6-3, to knot the match at two.
Despite two tiebreaks; however, the Phoenix fell in the remaining three matches at No. 1, 2 and 3 to even its record at 4-4 through the season's first eight matches.
Green Bay will have a two-week hiatus before welcoming in head coach Daniel Bickett's alma mater, the UW-Whitewater Warhawks, in what marks the Phoenix's first home match of the 2016 campaign on Feb. 26. First serve is at approximately 6:30 p.m. from Western Racquet and Fitness Club.
Singles competition
1. Matic Spec (MINN) def. Leo Gomez Islinger (GB) 7-5, 6-2
2. Ruben Weber (MINN) def. Howard Scott (GB) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
3. Justyn Levin (MINN) def. Joshua Schramm (GB) 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-1
4. Josip Krstanovic (MINN) def. Florian Kraenzler (GB) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Marino Alpeza (MINN) def. Joey Leto (GB) 6-4, 6-0
6. Charlie Ridout (GB) def. Jeremy Lynn (MINN) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Leo Gomez Islinger/Florian Kraenzler (GB) def. Marino Alpeza/Ruben Weber (MINN) 6-4
2. Joey Leto/Howard Scott (GB) def. Justyn Levin/Josip Krstanovic (MINN) 7-5
3. Matic Spec/Jeremy Lynn (MINN) def. Rowan Isaaks/Miles McDowall (GB) 6-0
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