By Colton McCrea, Sun Devil Media Relations Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil men's tennis team returned back for day two of the Tempe Collegiate Classic set to face their second consecutive ranked opponent in No. 16 Illinois.
ASU sent three double pairings to begin the afternoon with Benjamin Hannestad/Dominik Kellovsky, Justin Roberts/Makey Rakotomalala and No. 22 Tim Ruehl/Andrea Bolla set to square off against the Fighting Illini. Hannestad and Kellovsky went back and forth to keep things close on court one but ultimately fell 7-5.
Roberts and Rakotomalala jump started the day for the Devils, receiving the victory in dominant fashion, 6-1. Shortly after, Ruehl and Bolla added yet another victory for the Maroon and Gold in doubles play, 6-3.
Singles play action followed with Roberts taking the top court for his second consecutive match, but fell to Zeke Clark in straight-sets. Rakotomalala was also unable to register a win, as he also fell, 6-3, 6-4.
Bolla and Ruehl carried their victories into singles play, earning themselves their first victories of the weekend in straight sets over their opponents.
After a straight set victory from a day ago, Nathan Ponwith brought the energy for the final match of the afternoon at Kiwanis Tennis Center, as he powered through a victory over Caleb Chakravarthi in a three-set thriller, the only ASU singles bout to go on for three sets so far. With the win, Ponwith remains 2-0 in the tournament.
ASU returns back tomorrow for their final day of match play, as they set to take on No. 3 Mississippi State at noon.
Doubles Finals:
1. Chakravarhti/Gomes (ILL) def. Hannestad/Kellovsky (ASU) | 7-5
2. Roberts/Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Clark/Montsi (ILL) | 6-1
3. No. 22 Ruehl/Bolla (ASU) def. Khlif/Budic (ILL) | 6-3
Singles Finals:
1. No. 92 Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Justin Roberts (ASU) | 6-3, 6-4
2. Tim Ruehl (ASU) def. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) | 6-3, 6-2
3. Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. Vuk Budic (ILL) | 6-2, 6-5
4. No. 90 Noe Khlif (ILL) def. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) | 6-3, 6-4
5. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) vs. Caleb Chakravarthi (ILL) | 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil men's tennis team returned back for day two of the Tempe Collegiate Classic set to face their second consecutive ranked opponent in No. 16 Illinois.
ASU sent three double pairings to begin the afternoon with Benjamin Hannestad/Dominik Kellovsky, Justin Roberts/Makey Rakotomalala and No. 22 Tim Ruehl/Andrea Bolla set to square off against the Fighting Illini. Hannestad and Kellovsky went back and forth to keep things close on court one but ultimately fell 7-5.
Roberts and Rakotomalala jump started the day for the Devils, receiving the victory in dominant fashion, 6-1. Shortly after, Ruehl and Bolla added yet another victory for the Maroon and Gold in doubles play, 6-3.
Singles play action followed with Roberts taking the top court for his second consecutive match, but fell to Zeke Clark in straight-sets. Rakotomalala was also unable to register a win, as he also fell, 6-3, 6-4.
Bolla and Ruehl carried their victories into singles play, earning themselves their first victories of the weekend in straight sets over their opponents.
After a straight set victory from a day ago, Nathan Ponwith brought the energy for the final match of the afternoon at Kiwanis Tennis Center, as he powered through a victory over Caleb Chakravarthi in a three-set thriller, the only ASU singles bout to go on for three sets so far. With the win, Ponwith remains 2-0 in the tournament.
ASU returns back tomorrow for their final day of match play, as they set to take on No. 3 Mississippi State at noon.
Doubles Finals:
1. Chakravarhti/Gomes (ILL) def. Hannestad/Kellovsky (ASU) | 7-5
2. Roberts/Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Clark/Montsi (ILL) | 6-1
3. No. 22 Ruehl/Bolla (ASU) def. Khlif/Budic (ILL) | 6-3
Singles Finals:
1. No. 92 Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Justin Roberts (ASU) | 6-3, 6-4
2. Tim Ruehl (ASU) def. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) | 6-3, 6-2
3. Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. Vuk Budic (ILL) | 6-2, 6-5
4. No. 90 Noe Khlif (ILL) def. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) | 6-3, 6-4
5. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) vs. Caleb Chakravarthi (ILL) | 6-2, 4-6, 6-2