Air Force Academy
Wichita State
Falcons Blanked by Wichita State, 7-0
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2008
The Air Force men's tennis team suffered its second consecutive loss Friday, dropping a 7-0 decision to Wichita State at the Academy. With the loss, Air Force fell to 5-4 this season.
Despite Air Force winning the No. 1 doubles match, the Shockers took an early 1-0 lead by taking the Nos. 2 and 3 matches. AFA sophomore Brett Rodgers and freshman Taylor Soster won the No. 1 match, defeating Tiago Espirito and Jonathan Obrist, 8-6.
However, Wichita State won at No. 2 as Albert Ballesta and Thiago Dos Santos defeated sophomores Austin Francis and James Tomlin, 8-2, and at No. 3 where Adrian Chermaci and Matt Tievans downed sophomore Mike Gies and freshman Johnny Buckingham, 8-1.
The Shockers kept the momentum throughout singles play, winning all six matches without losing a set. Espirito led things off with a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Rodgers at No. 1, while Ballesta defeated Francis, 7-6(0), 6-4 at the No. 2 spot.
Santos cruised past Tomlin, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 and Obrist won at No. 4 over Soster, 7-6, 6-3. Chermaci won the No. 5 match, 6-3, 6-2, against Buckingham and Tievans beat AFA senior Greg Ferry, 8-2, in a pro-set at the No. 6 spot.
Air Force continues play at home on Saturday, Feb. 23 by hosting Idaho at 2 p.m.
Wichita State 7, Air Force 0
Singles
1. Tiago Espirito (WSU) def. Brett Rodgers, 6-4, 7-6(6)
2. Albert Ballesta (WSU) def. Austin Francis, 7-6(0), 6-4
3. Thiango Dos Santos (WSU) def. James Tomlin, 6-1, 6-0
4. Jonathan Ulbrist (WSU) def. Taylor Soster, 7-6, 6-3
5. Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Johnny Buckingham, 6-3, 6-2
6. Matt Tievans (WSU) def. Greg Ferry, 8-2
Doubles
1. Rodgers/Soster (AFA) def. Espirito/Obrist, 8-6
2. Ballesta/Dos Santos (WSU) def. Tomlin/Francis, 8-2
3. Chermaci/Tievans (WSU) def. Buckingham/Mike Gies, 8-1
Players Mentioned
