Colorado University Athletics
Red Raiders Edge Buffaloes, 4-3
Feb. 23, 2003
BOULDER - The Colorado men's tennis team played a hard fought match, however fell in the later stages of the doubles competition to No. 56 Texas Tech, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the Kittredge Tennis Courts on the campus of the University of Colorado.
With inclement weather looming in the Boulder area, the singles portion was played first where both teams split 3-3. Senior Justin Hunter started the day taking a hard-fought victory at No. 1 singles, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Junior Bucky Mink and freshman Chad Tsuda followed with victories at No. 3 and No. 6, respectively evening the team score at three. Mink was a straight-set winner (6-4, 7-5), while Tsuda won his second consecutive dual match with an easy 6-3, 6-1.
"Justin played a very good player in tough conditions, kept his composure through out the match and that was the difference," said CU first-year head coach Sam Winterbotham. "Chad (Tsuda) has been doing an awesome job after winning his second consecutive singles match and Bucky Mink is starting to lead, coming out and beating very good opponents."
In doubles, both the Red Raiders and the Buffaloes split the first two matches with Hunter and Tsuda teaming up for an exciting 9-8 (5) win at No. 1 doubles. The visitors evened the score taking the No. 2 slot by an 8-6 margin setting up the final match at No. 3. As the weather turned worse with snow, the No. 3 doubles match between CU's Maciej Dilaj/Jon Magnes, and TTU's Michael Innerebner/Jonathan John was subsequently moved inside to the Harvest House (Millennium Hotel) for the deciding tie-breaker match where TTU escaped with a 9-8 (4) win.
Colorado, ranked No. 69 nationally, played its sixth consecutive match against ranked opponents, fell to 0-2 in the Big 12 and 0-6 overall. Texas Tech improves to 6-1 and 2-0 in conference play.
"It was heartbreaking loss because the guys had a great week of practice and were really focused," said Winterbotham. "I think the team feels some pressure because of our record and what I'm urging them to remember is the quality of opposition we're playing is 10 times better on what it has been. If we can maintain our focus on the long term, we have 16 matches left. And in those 16 matches, we can do a lot of good things. I was very proud today and we're taking steps."
CU travels to the H-E-B Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas from March 7-9.
No. 56 Texas Tech 4, No. 69 Colorado 3
Singles - 1) Justin Hunter (CU) def. Diederik de Groot 7-6, 4-6, 6-4; 2) Alfonso Perez (TTU) def. Maciej Dilaj 6-1, 6-3; 3) Bucky Mink (CU) def. Devin Wakeford 6-4, 7-5; 4) Michael Innerebner (TTU) def. Marko Bundalo 6-2, 6-3; 5) John Walker (TTU) def. Jon Magnes 6-4, 6-4; 6) Chad Tsuda (CU) def. Casper Steenkamp 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles - 1) Hunter/Tsuda (CU) def. De Groot/Wakeford 9-8 (5); 2) Perez/Walker (TTU) def. Mink/Bundalo 8-6; 3) Innerebner/John (TTU) def. Magnes/Dilaj 9-8 (4).