March 2, 2006

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Marquette men's tennis team played tough in the first round of the HEB Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, but fell to Brigham Young University, 4-0.

Pete Van Lieshout and Brett Binkley played well at no. 2 doubles, defeating Chip Hand and Henry Marsh, 8-4.

"We were not good at no. 1 doubles but we played pretty well at no. 2," head coach Steve Rodecap said. "We had chances at no. 3 but did not capitalize on them."

Trent Hagan and Stephen Shao played a close match at no. 3, losing to Dominik Kaufhold and Ivan Kokurin, 8-5. Eigis Vedrickas and Ian Kawas were swept by the Cougar's Jose Lechuga and James Ludlow, 8-0.

"Being outdoors for the first time is never going to be easy," Rodecap said. "I thought we handled the conditions very well. It's very hot and very windy."

The Golden Eagles got early first set wins from Vedrickas and Hagan, but were not able to close out matches at any other positions.

"Trent and Eigis went out and won their first sets pretty quickly," said Rodecap. "Unfortunately it wasn't enough. We needed effort from all six guys. We competed well at four spots but we needed six. Trent ended up losing at no. 4 but he played pretty well today."

Hagan took BYU's Hand to three sets, losing 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Kawas lacked the intensity needed to beat Kaufhold at no. 2, falling 6-0, 6-3.

Marquette has an opportunity to get back on the winning track, when they take on the University of Texas- Pan American tomorrow at 9 a.m.

"Overall, we are still looking for a toughness to us," Rodecap said. "We still have a ways to go to get there."

-COMPLETE RESULTS-

Doubles No. 1-Lechuga/Ludlow (BYU) def. Vedrickas/Kawas (MU) 8-0
No. 2-Binkley/Van Lieshout (MU) def. Hand/Marsh (BYU) 8-4
No. 3-Kaufhold/Kokurin (BYU) def. Shao/Hagan (MU) 8-5

Singles No. 1-Eigis Vedrickas (MU) vs. James Ludlow (BYU) dnf
No. 2-Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) def. Ian Kawas (MU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 3-Chip Hand (BYU) def. Trent Hagan (MU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 4-Brett Binkley (MU) vs. Ivan Kokurin (BYU) dnf
No. 5-Jose Lechuga (BYU) def. Stephen Shao (MU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 6-Greg Sirotek (MU) vs. Zack Warren (BYU) dnf

Marquette Golden Eagles Men's Tennis

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