TEMPE – Arizona State got back in the win column Friday with a 4-1 victory over No. 65 Rice to open the ASU 8-Team Invitational at the Kiwanis Tennis Center. The Sun Devils got a lot a help from the bottom of the lineup, celebrating wins from George Stoupe and Jonah Wilson who clinched the day for the Maroon and Gold. ASU is back at it at 1:00 p.m. MST Saturday against UC Santa Barbara.
"I thought the guys did an amazing job going into singles after losing a really close doubles point," head coach Matt Hill said. "They rebounded very professionally and went into their matches knowing what their game plans were and were disciplined about it. I thought they managed the matches really well. We had a lot of guys that came in for the first time that hadn't seen singles actions, or had very limited reps - so it was impressive to see them pick up wins and put points on the board against really good players. I give credit to their training and their day-to-day and how they operate outside of match conditions."
Looking ahead in the schedule, Hill said "We have to take a little more risk and get our breakpoint opportunities in the doubles. I thought we were a little too conservative in those moments. But other than that, we just need to keep going."
How it happened
The Sun Devils battled hard in doubles. No. 27 Murphy Cassone and Jacob Bullard took court one 7-5, but the team was unsuccessful in securing the doubles point with loss at courts two and three, both losing 4-6.
In singles, Cassone quickly took down Sumit Sarkar at No. 1, 6-3, 6-4. George Stoupe followed on No. 4 with a victory over Trinity Grear 6-2, 6-1. On No. 3, Jacob Bullard pulled out a tough three set win 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, over Rice's Emir Sendogan. A 7-5, 6-1 win from Jonah Wilson at No. 5 clinched the 4-1 win over Rice.
Next up
The Sun Devils will take on the Gauchos from UC Santa Barbara tomorrow, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.
ASU 4, #65 Rice 1
Singles competition
1. #27 Murphy Cassone (ASU) def. Sumit Sarkar (Rice) 6-3, 6-2
2. #56 Fabien Salle (ASU) vs. Haoyuan Huang (Rice) 4-6, 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
3. Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Emir Sendogan (Rice) 6-0, 1-6, 6-3
4. George Stoupe (ASU) def. Trinity Grear (Rice) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jonah Wilson (ASU) def. Karol Paluch (Rice) 7-5, 6-1
6. Moritz Hoffmann vs. Campbell Salmon (Rice) 7-5, 1-6, 2-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Murphy Cassone/Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Sumit Sarkar/Haoyuan Huang (Rice) 7-5
2. Wes Barnett/Trinity Grear (Rice) def. Fabien Salle/George Stoupe 6-6
3. Dylan Heap/AJ Valenty (Rice) def. Jonah Wilson/Moritz Hoffman 6-4
Order of finish
Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,3,5)
"I thought the guys did an amazing job going into singles after losing a really close doubles point," head coach Matt Hill said. "They rebounded very professionally and went into their matches knowing what their game plans were and were disciplined about it. I thought they managed the matches really well. We had a lot of guys that came in for the first time that hadn't seen singles actions, or had very limited reps - so it was impressive to see them pick up wins and put points on the board against really good players. I give credit to their training and their day-to-day and how they operate outside of match conditions."
Looking ahead in the schedule, Hill said "We have to take a little more risk and get our breakpoint opportunities in the doubles. I thought we were a little too conservative in those moments. But other than that, we just need to keep going."
That's a win for the Sun Devils!???? pic.twitter.com/vM6LwyXihu
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 25, 2022
Coach Hill post match ?? pic.twitter.com/Ta9PjDXTEh
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 26, 2022
How it happened
The Sun Devils battled hard in doubles. No. 27 Murphy Cassone and Jacob Bullard took court one 7-5, but the team was unsuccessful in securing the doubles point with loss at courts two and three, both losing 4-6.
In singles, Cassone quickly took down Sumit Sarkar at No. 1, 6-3, 6-4. George Stoupe followed on No. 4 with a victory over Trinity Grear 6-2, 6-1. On No. 3, Jacob Bullard pulled out a tough three set win 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, over Rice's Emir Sendogan. A 7-5, 6-1 win from Jonah Wilson at No. 5 clinched the 4-1 win over Rice.
Next up
The Sun Devils will take on the Gauchos from UC Santa Barbara tomorrow, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.
ASU 4, #65 Rice 1
Singles competition
1. #27 Murphy Cassone (ASU) def. Sumit Sarkar (Rice) 6-3, 6-2
2. #56 Fabien Salle (ASU) vs. Haoyuan Huang (Rice) 4-6, 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
3. Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Emir Sendogan (Rice) 6-0, 1-6, 6-3
4. George Stoupe (ASU) def. Trinity Grear (Rice) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jonah Wilson (ASU) def. Karol Paluch (Rice) 7-5, 6-1
6. Moritz Hoffmann vs. Campbell Salmon (Rice) 7-5, 1-6, 2-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Murphy Cassone/Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Sumit Sarkar/Haoyuan Huang (Rice) 7-5
2. Wes Barnett/Trinity Grear (Rice) def. Fabien Salle/George Stoupe 6-6
3. Dylan Heap/AJ Valenty (Rice) def. Jonah Wilson/Moritz Hoffman 6-4
Order of finish
Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,3,5)