Fifth-Ranked Men’s Tennis Falls to No. 15 Chicago at Home, 5-4

RESULTS

St. Louis, Mo., April 2, 2011 – The No. 5 ranked Washington University in St. Louis men’s tennis team suffered its first home loss of the season and third in the last seven years, after a 5-4 defeat to No. 15 ranked University of Chicago on Saturday afternoon at the Tao Tennis Center.

The Bears entered the match winning 41 of their last 42 home matches, and are now 84-8 (.924) all-time at home under 10th-year head coach Roger Follmer.

Chicago (12-3) set the tone from the start of the match, by winning all three doubles matches. That was the first time this season Washington U. has been down 3-0 entering singles play.

The Bears rallied back with straight-set singles victories by senior Max Woods (No. 2, 6-3, 6-0) and sophomore Kareem Farah (No. 5, 6-4, 6-4) to trim the lead to 4-3. Troy Brinker sealed the victory for Chicago with a 6-3, 6-7 (7-4) win over sophomore Adam Putterman at No. 3 singles.

Senior Isaac Stein (No. 1, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0) and sophomore Gary Parizher (No. 4, 3-6, 6-0, 6-0) added three-set victories for the Bears, but it was not enough.

Washington University (8-4) has five days off before returning to action on Friday, April 8, against NAIA No. 24 ranked Lindenwood University. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Tao Tennis Center.

Bear Notebook: Washington U. hosted its First Annual Campus Kids Day on Saturday, which included a Fastest Serve Contest and a Target Serving Contest with awarded prizes, along with a raffle.