OSU Falls In Quarterfinals Of ITA Championships

By February 19, 2023 (11:27 am)Sports

Ohio State men’s tennis’ run at an indoor championship and undefeated season both came to an end Saturday.

The No. 1 Buckeyes fell to No. 7 Texas — a team they had beaten previously this season — 4-3 in Chicago during the ITA Indoor Championship quarterfinals.

Things started off well for OSU, taking the doubles point in the dual by winning two of three doubles matches. No. 25 James Trotter/Andrew Lutschaunig defeated the No. 4 pairing in the country, Eliot Spirizzi/Cleeve Harper by a 6-4 final. Robert Cash/Justin Boulais snagged the other victory for Ohio State.

But Texas won four of six singles matches to scrape out a victory.

The Longhorns’ No. 65 Micah Braswell upset No. 9 JJ Tracy 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 and Texas also scooped up wins from No. 1 Eliot Spirizzi, No. 33 Pierre-Yves Bailey and Nevin Arimilli. No. 28 Trotter should be moving up in the national rankings for the Buckeyes, at least, knocking off No. 25 Siem Woldeab 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to cap a 2-0 night between singles and doubles. Cash completed the same feat, beating Harper for OSU’s other singles victory.

OSU opened the championships in the Sweet 16 Friday with a win over Illinois, a 4-0 sweep that moved them into the quarterfinal matchup. The Buckeyes had swept the Longhorns 4-0 at home Feb. 5, but couldn’t replicate the effort in Chicago.

The Buckeyes play No. 5 Virginia in consolation play Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

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