KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In its opening weekend of Summit League play, the IUPUI men’s tennis team dropped a pair of tough 4-3 decisions to South Dakota State and Kansas City.

With the losses, the Jags dropped to 2-15 on the season and 0-2 in the Summit League. South Dakota State finished the weekend at 1-1 in league play, while the Kangaroos got off to a 2-0 start in conference action.

South Dakota State 4, IUPUI 3
On Saturday against the Jackrabbits, the Jaguars fell into a one-point hole as SDSU won all three doubles matches.

The Jaguars quickly evened the score when Jason Jaruvang claimed a victory at the No. 1 singles position with a pair of 6-0 winning sets.

At the No. 2 position, Nick Volz came through with a three-set victory, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, to give the Jags another win at the top of the lineup, but the Jackrabbits countered with wins at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions to keep a 3-2 lead with two matches to play.

Unfortunately for the Jags, a loss at the No. 5 position offset a Louis Sacks three-set victory to give the Jackrabbits the victory.

Kansas City 4, IUPUI 3
Looking to bounce back from its loss to South Dakota State, IUPUI got off to a good start against Kansas City as it rallied to claim the doubles point.

Following a loss in the top doubles match, the Jags used a pair of 8-4 wins from Jaruvang and Jake Hedderig, and Deon Shafer and Thomas Gans at the No. 3 and No. 2 positions, respectively, to rally to for the one-point advantage.

Kansas City retaliated in singles play with wins at the No. 3 and No. 2 spots to take its first lead of the match, 2-1, but a straight-set win from Armaan Choudhary and a three-set, come-from-behind victory from Jaruvang at the top spot pulled IUPUI back in front, 3-2.

The score evened following a Kansas City victory at the fourth spot, but in the final match, IUPUI had the upper hand with Sacks holding a one-set lead in the No. 6 match. However, Andrey Smirnov responded with 6-4, 6-3 wins in sets two and three to complete the comeback win for the Kangaroos.

The Jags are back in action on Thursday, April 4, when they head to Fort Wayne, Ind., to take on Omaha.

Kansas City 4, IUPUI 3
Mar 24, 2013 at Kansas City, Mo. (Carriage Club)

Singles competition

1. Jason Jaruvang (IUPUI) def. Nino Hasandedic (UMKC) 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-0

2. Grant Fleming (UMKC) def. Nick Volz (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-2

3. Abdul Alawadhi (UMKC) def. Jake Hedderig (IUPUI) 6-3, 6-4

4. Tomas Patino (UMKC) def. Deon Shafer (IUPUI) 6-4, 7-6

5. Armaan Choudhary (IUPUI) def. Daniil Ivanov (UMKC) 6-4, 7-6

6. Andrey Smirnov (UMKC) def. Louis Sacks (IUPUI) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

 

Doubles competition

1. Grant Fleming/Tomas Patino (UMKC) def. Jacob Bradley/Nick Volz (IUPUI) 8-2

2. Deon Shafer/Thomas Gans (IUPUI) def. Nino Hasandedic/Abdul Alawadhi (UMKC) 8-4

3. Jason Jaruvang/Jake Hedderig (IUPUI) def. Tim Akhmedov/David Heckler (UMKC) 8-4

 

Match Notes

IUPUI 2-15, 0-2 SL

Kansas City 4-7, 2-0 SL

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,5,1,4,6)