April 17, 2009
Hilltoppers Win Match of Regional Contenders
TOPEKA, Kan.—St. Edward’s rode its regionally-ranked doubles tandems to a 6-3 win against Northwest Missouri State Friday. The match featured two of the top teams in the South Central Region and the 23rd- and 25th-ranked teams in the nation.
St. Edward’s (#23 nationally, #4 regionally) won all three doubles matches and halved the six singles matches to improve to 10-9. Four of the six singles matches required a third set.
Northwest’s Daniel Usieto, ranked 39th in the nation, fought off Justin Raiti at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. Vijit Sehgal beat Bernard Lancaster in three sets at No. 3 singles to earn the Bearcats’ second point and Ryan Westerhof beat Mick Walter at No. 4 singles for the third.
Northwest (#25 nationally, #5 regionally) held a one-set advantage at No. 5 and No. 6 singles only to see the Hilltoppers rally to win both points. Brett Powers, ranked 12th in the region, upset Felipe Gennari, ranked sixth in the region, to help St. Edward’s gain a point at No. 2 singles.
The Hilltoppers’ 3-0 edge after doubles play aleved much of the pressure on the singles matches. St. Edward’s earned the points with scores of 8-3, 8-5 and 8-2. The Hilltoppers’ top two doubles tandems are ranked second and eighth in the region, respectively.
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