Ohio State Sweeps Tuesday Doubleheader 

The No. 5 Ohio State men’s tennis team began a busy week of non-conference play Tuesday with two wins against Youngstown State and Wright State, respectively, at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes (7-0) earned a 4-0 shutout vs. the Penguins in match one before, downing Wright State, 4-0, in the evening session.

 

The Scarlet and Gray will now prepare for a big weekend on their 2014 non-conference home schedule, hosting No. 17 Kentucky at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 8 Texas A&M at Noon Sunday in Columbus.

 

No. 5 Ohio State 4, Youngstown State 0

The Buckeyes improved to 4-0 all-time vs. the Penguins after claiming the doubles point and three singles matches in just under an hour and 30 minutes.

 

In doubles, Chris Diaz and Ralf Steinbach were the first to finish, posting a 6-0 mark vs. Rodrigo Campos and Zeeshan Ismail. The Buckeye duo is now 4-0 this dual season. Hunter Callahan and Marko Goles-Babic were paired for the first time on No. 1 and claimed the doubles point with a 6-2 victory against Dawoud Kabli and Sebastian Hagn.

 

In singles, Callahan put the Buckeyes ahead 2-0 when he secured a 6-1, 6-0 score vs. Sharvil Nawghare at No. 6. Steinbach then won 6-2, 6-1 vs. Kabli, while Kevin Metka ended the match with a 4-0 mark after downing Ismail 6-0, 6-2. Ohio State has now earned six shutouts with their wins over the Penguins and Raiders this year.

 

No. 5 Ohio State 4, Wright State

The Buckeyes continued to cruise into the second match of the day against the Raiders. At court No. 2, Callahan and Pollanen blanked Michal Lyzwa and Lauri Makikalli, 6-0. Metka and Goles-Babic clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Hayden Joblin and Ricardo Pineda on court No. 1. Diaz and Steinbach had match point at 5-2 against Dan Gilbert and Myles Harris when play was suspended on court No. 3.

 

Heading into singles play, Callahan dropped a 6-0, 6-0 sweep on Aaron Madaris on court No. 6. Metka then put Ohio State up 3-0 with a 6-1,6-3 win over Joblin on court No. 4. Goles-Babic clinched the match for the Buckeyes with a 6-2,6-3 victory over Lyzwa. It is the first singles clinch for the freshman from Zagreb, Croatia. When play was called, Pollanen led Makikalli by a set and a break on court No. 1, Diaz came back from 1-4 down to win the first set and led in the second on court No. 2 and Steinbach dropped the first set, but was leading in the second on court No. 3.

 

Singles competition

1. Herkko Pollanen (OSU) vs. Silviu Mistreanu (YSU) 5-5, unfinished

2. Chris Diaz (OSU) vs. Sebastian Hagn (YSU) 6-2, 2-1, unfinished

3. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Dawoud Kabli (YSU) 6-2, 6-1

4. Marko Goles-Babic (OSU) vs. Max Schmerin (YSU) 6-3, 2-1, unfinished

5. Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Zeeshan Ismail (YSU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Sharvil Nawghare (YSU) 6-1, 6-0

 

Doubles competition

1. Hunter Callahan/Marko Goles-Babic (OSU) def. Dawoud Kabli/Sebastian Hagn (YSU) 6-2

2. Chris Diaz/Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Rodrigo Campos/Zeeshan Ismail (YSU) 6-0

3. Kevin Metka/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) vs. Max Schmerin/Silviu Mistreanu (YSU) 4-3, unfinished

 

Match Notes:

Youngstown State 1-3

Ohio State 6-0; National ranking #5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,5)

 

Singles competition

1. Herkko Pollanen (OSU) vs. Silviu Mistreanu (YSU) 5-5, unfinished

2. Chris Diaz (OSU) vs. Sebastian Hagn (YSU) 6-2, 2-1, unfinished

3. Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Dawoud Kabli (YSU) 6-2, 6-1

4. Marko Goles-Babic (OSU) vs. Max Schmerin (YSU) 6-3, 2-1, unfinished

5. Kevin Metka (OSU) def. Zeeshan Ismail (YSU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Hunter Callahan (OSU) def. Sharvil Nawghare (YSU) 6-1, 6-0

 

Doubles competition

1. Hunter Callahan/Marko Goles-Babic (OSU) def. Dawoud Kabli/Sebastian Hagn (YSU) 6-2

2. Chris Diaz/Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Rodrigo Campos/Zeeshan Ismail (YSU) 6-0

3. Kevin Metka/Herkko Pollanen (OSU) vs. Max Schmerin/Silviu Mistreanu (YSU) 4-3, unfinished

 

Match Notes:

Youngstown State 1-3

Ohio State 6-0; National ranking #5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,5)