Sunday, February 21
Omaha, NE
11:00 AM
Creighton University
4
vs
3
Air Force
Photo by: A.J. Olnes
Men's Tennis Delivers 4-3 Comeback Victory Against Air Force
2/21/2021 3:48:00 PM | Men's Tennis
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton men's tennis team completed a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Air Force on Sunday afternoon at the Hanscom Indoor Tennis Center.
Sunday's match was played on only four courts (normally six during home matches) and needed four hours to complete.
The victory marked the Bluejays' third consecutive 4-3 win over the Falcons in Omaha.
Creighton improved to 3-3 this season, while Air Force dropped to 2-2.
Armando Gandini clinched the match with a 6-3 win during the third set in the No. 5 singles match. The senior won the first set 6-3 and dropped the second set 6-4 before turning the tides in the deciding set.
The Bluejays started the day with wins at the top two doubles positions to clinch the first point. Air Force earned a 6-2 win at the No. 3 position but Matthew Lanahan and Jose Oscar Diaz combined for a 6-4 win at No. 2 and Stratton Brown and Joe Hoff secured the opening team tally with a tight 7-5 win in the No. 1 doubles match.
The Falcons earned straights sets victories in the No. 1 and 4 singles matches to gain a 2-1 edge.
Lanahan dropped his first set in a tiebreaker at the No. 2 slot but bounced back for a 6-3 win in the second. The freshman narrowly dropped a 6-4 decision in the deciding set as Air Force stretched its lead to 3-1.
Diaz started the Creighton comeback with a three-set win at No. 3. The Dominican Republic native lost in a tiebreaker during the first set before winning 6-3 in the second and claiming a 7-3 win in a tiebreaker during the deciding frame.
Hoff tied the match at 3-3 with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 6 position before Gandini needed three sets to clinch the match with his team-leading fourth singles victory of the season.
"This was a special match for us to come from behind and win," head coach Tom Lilly said. "It was a roller coaster and we knew Air Force was going to be very tough as they always are. I'm proud of how our guys fought and stayed determined for the entire match. We had to make plays at big moments and this time it worked out in our favor."
Creighton is set to take a few weeks off from competition before returning to the courts on March 13 against St. Thomas.
Creighton 4, Air Force 3
2/21/2021 at Omaha, Neb. (Hanscom Tennis Center)
Sunday's match was played on only four courts (normally six during home matches) and needed four hours to complete.
The victory marked the Bluejays' third consecutive 4-3 win over the Falcons in Omaha.
Creighton improved to 3-3 this season, while Air Force dropped to 2-2.
Armando Gandini clinched the match with a 6-3 win during the third set in the No. 5 singles match. The senior won the first set 6-3 and dropped the second set 6-4 before turning the tides in the deciding set.
The Bluejays started the day with wins at the top two doubles positions to clinch the first point. Air Force earned a 6-2 win at the No. 3 position but Matthew Lanahan and Jose Oscar Diaz combined for a 6-4 win at No. 2 and Stratton Brown and Joe Hoff secured the opening team tally with a tight 7-5 win in the No. 1 doubles match.
The Falcons earned straights sets victories in the No. 1 and 4 singles matches to gain a 2-1 edge.
Lanahan dropped his first set in a tiebreaker at the No. 2 slot but bounced back for a 6-3 win in the second. The freshman narrowly dropped a 6-4 decision in the deciding set as Air Force stretched its lead to 3-1.
Diaz started the Creighton comeback with a three-set win at No. 3. The Dominican Republic native lost in a tiebreaker during the first set before winning 6-3 in the second and claiming a 7-3 win in a tiebreaker during the deciding frame.
Hoff tied the match at 3-3 with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 6 position before Gandini needed three sets to clinch the match with his team-leading fourth singles victory of the season.
"This was a special match for us to come from behind and win," head coach Tom Lilly said. "It was a roller coaster and we knew Air Force was going to be very tough as they always are. I'm proud of how our guys fought and stayed determined for the entire match. We had to make plays at big moments and this time it worked out in our favor."
Creighton is set to take a few weeks off from competition before returning to the courts on March 13 against St. Thomas.
Creighton 4, Air Force 3
2/21/2021 at Omaha, Neb. (Hanscom Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Paul Hendrix (AF) def. Stratton Brown (CU) 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2. Justin Waldman (AF) def. Matthew Lanahan (CU) 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4 |
| 3. Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) def. Jonathan Mascagni (AF) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) |
| 4. Robert Baylon (AF) def. Shin Inoue (CU) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) |
| 5. Armando Gandini (CU) def. Jordan Azuma (AF) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 6. Joe Hoff (CU) def. Sean McKendree (AF) 6-3, 6-1 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Stratton Brown/Joe Hoff (CU) def. Jamie Bautista/Paul Hendrix (AF) 7-5 |
| 2. Matthew Lanahan/Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) def. Jordan Azuma/Robert Baylon (AF) 6-4 |
| 3. Jonathan Mascagni/Justin Waldman (AF) def. Mac Mease/Armando Gandini (CU) 6-2 |
| Match Notes |
| Air Force 2-2 |
| Creighton 3-3 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,4,2,3,6,5) |
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Paul Hendrix / 0 [AF]
66
43
#2 Singles Match
123
Justin Waldman / 0 [AF]
736
664
#3 Singles Match
123
Jonathan Mascagni / 0 [AF]
736
667
#4 Singles Match
12
Robert Baylon / 0 [AF]
67
36
#5 Singles Match
123
Jordan Azuma / 0 [AF]
363
646
#6 Singles Match
12
Sean McKendree / 0 [AF]
31
66
Order of Finish:
1,4,2,3,6,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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