Air Force Academy
Denver Invitational
Falcons Complete Day One at DU Invite
9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 23, 2011
The Air Force men's tennis team opened its 2011-12 season Friday at the Denver Invitational. The Falcons played a team consisting of players from Nebraska and Texas Tech (both in the top 50 in the country last season), then played doubles against Denver.
Three Falcons posted three-set singles victories in the morning match. Sophomore Steven Young pulled out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, over Gabriel Wanderly of Texas Tech, while freshmen Joey Brandt and Landon Kinsey each won his first collegiate match over Brandon Videtich of Nebraska (3-6, 7-6, 7-6) and Jeff Bryan of Texas Tech (0-6, 6-4, 7-5), respectively. Brandt saved match points in each of the last two sets while Kinsey rallied after losing the first eight games of the match.
In addition, junior Lance Wilhelm played the 11th-ranked player in the country, Texas Tech's Gonzalo Escobar and lost 6-3, 6-3.
In doubles against the Pioneers, sophomores Alex Grubbs and Ali Rizvi defeated Max Krammer and Fabio Biasion, 9-7. Young and Brandt lost in a tiebreaker, as did Kinsey and junior Stephen Katrein.
"We played at a high level all day today and I loved our energy on the court," said Air Force head coach Dan Oosterhous. "Our guys made good decisions and the quality of our tennis today shows we're getting better."
Air Force returns to action on Saturday, taking on MWC rival New Mexico in singles and the Nebraska/Texas Tech team in doubles. Team scoring is not used this weekend, individual players receive points for winning matches.
Texas Tech/Nebraska vs. Air Force (Singles)
1. Gonzalo Escobar (TTU) def. Lance Wilhelm (AFA) 6-3, 6-3
2. Vitor Manzini (TTU) def. Ali Rizvi (AFA) 6-2, 6-2
3. Steven Young (AFA) def. Gabriel Wanderley (TTU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Tom Blackwell (NU) def. Grant Taylor (AFA) 6-3, 7-6
5. Robert Schulze (NU) def. Stephen Katrein (AFA) 6-4, 7-6
6. Joey Brandt (AFA) def. Brandon Videtich (NU) 3-6, 7-6, 7-6
7. Landon Kinsey (AFA) def. Jeff Bryan (TTU) 0-6, 6-4, 7-5
8. Drew Freeman (NU) def. Michael Tope (AFA) 6-1, 6-0
Denver vs. Air Force (Doubles)
1. Enej Bonin/Jens Vorkefeld (DU) def. Lance Wilhelm/Grant Taylor (AFA) 8-6
2. Yannick Weihs/Othar Kordsachia (DU) def. Steven Young/Joey Brandt (AFA) 9-8(2)
3. Ali Rizvi/Alex Grubbs (AFA) def. Max Krammer/Fabio Biasion (DU) 9-7
4. Alex Clinkenbeard/Luke Manley (DU) def. Landon Kinsey/Stephen Katrein (AFA) 9-8(5)
