Feb. 16, 2008

Milwaukee - The Marquette University men's tennis team (7-3) battled nationally ranked Arizona State (4-0) down to the wire, but was unable to complete a comeback in a 4-3 setback to the 37th-ranked Sun Devils Saturday afternoon at Helfaer Tennis & Recreation Center.

The loss was the first at home in eight outings for the Golden Eagles and also snapped the team's five-match winning streak.

" Arizona State is a top flight program that is only going to rise in the rankings," head coach Steve Rodecap said. "Our guys believed going into the match they could win and as a result they put themselves in a position to do so. Obviously we are disappointed, but it is good to see the hard work pay off."

Leading 1-0 after doubles play, Marquette fell behind 3-1 following straight-set victories by ASU at the No. 6, 3 and 4 positions. Sophomore Dusan Medan closed the gap to 3-2 with a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Andres Arango in a spirited match.

Junior Trent Hagan claimed the first set at the No. 1 spot against Matt Brooklyn, but a third set was needed to decide the winner. Hagan had a match point late in the contest, but was unable to close out his opponent, allowing Brooklyn to claim a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory.

As soon as Arizona State claimed the win, T.J. Bellama retired due to injury and Mark Rutherford earned Marquette's third point.

Marquette, which featured a shuffled doubles lineup, claimed the valuable point with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. MU's Trent Hagan and Mark Rutherford posted an 8-5 win at No. 2 and the tandem of Dusan Medan and Niko Boulieris clinched the point following an 8-4 decision at No. 3. -- 30 --

Tennis Match Results
Arizona State vs Marquette
Feb 16, 2008 at Milwaukee, WI
#37 Arizona State 4, Marquette 3
Singles competition:
1. Matt Brooklyn (AZST) def. Trent Hagan (MU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-7)
2. Dusan Medan (MU) def. Andres Arango (AZST) 7-5, 6-1
3. Wes Miller (AZST) def. Stephen Shao (MU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Juan Carlos Rebaza (AZST) def. Niko Boulieris (MU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Mark Rutherford (MU) def. T.J. Bellama (AZST) 6-3, 6-7, retired
6. John Nanosky II (AZST) def. Brett Binkley (MU) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles competition:
1. Matt Brooklyn/T.J. Bellama (AZST) def. Brett Binkley/Stephen Shao (MU) 8-5
2. Trent Hagan/Mark Rutherford (MU) def. Andres Arango/Wes Miller (AZST) 8-5
3. Dusan Medan/Niko Boulieris (MU) def. John Nanosky II/Patrick Brogan (AZST) 8-4
Match Notes:
Arizona State 4-0; National ranking #37
Marquette 7-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,4,2,1,5)