FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For the third time in as many seasons, the IUPUI men’s tennis team advanced to the Summit League Championship match after defeating South Dakota State, 4-0, in the Summit League Tournament semifinals Friday at the Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Tennis Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

By winning the semifinal match, the Jags avenged a 4-3 regular-season loss to the Jackrabbits and will now take on Kansas City in the championship match for the third straight year. The Kangaroos defeated Fort Wayne, 5-1, in the other semifinal match earlier in the day to advance to the finals.

“The guys came out and played very hard in doubles today. We had a lot of energy and played with a lot of passion,” head coach Brandon Currie said. “South Dakota State is a tough team and had a great season. We have another tough test tomorrow, but we are feeling good and are ready for the challenge. We have been in the tournament finals the last three years and we are ready to seize the opportunity.”

In doubles action, Deon Shafer and Patrick O'Neill got IUPUI off to a strong start by doubling up SDSU’s James Thorp and Mateus Moreira, 8-4, at the No. 2 position. The other two doubles matches were tighter but at the top spot, Nick Volz and Jacob Bradley were able to pull away for an 8-6 win to secure the doubles point for the Jaguars.

With the doubles point secured, IUPUI turned its focus to singles play and Thomas Gans continued to give the team momentum with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles to get the Jags halfway to victory.

Jake Hedderig was the lone other Jag to win his opening set in singles by a 6-4 margin at the No. 3 position, before rallying for a 6-3 second-set win to inch IUPUI within a point of the win.

However, in the other four singles matches, the Jackrabbits won the first set in each of those matches to make things interesting. Despite falling behind, the Summit League Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Jason Jaruvang remained patient and evened his match with a 6-3 second-set win, before winning the third set by the same score to close out the 4-0 win for the Jags.

IUPUI and Kansas City will play for the right to represent the Summit League in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 27, at 10 a.m. Live stats for the match will be provided on IUPUIJags.com.

IUPUI vs. South Dakota State
Apr 26, 2013 at Fort Wayne, Ind.
(Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Tennis Center)
IUPUI 4, South Dakota State 0

Singles competition
1. Jason Jaruvang (IUPUI) def. Andrea Boglic (SDSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Parker Lawley (SDSU) vs. Nick Volz (IUPUI) 7-6 (7-5), 2-3, unfinished
3. Jake Hedderig (IUPUI) def. Mateus Moreira (SDSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Henrique Pereira (SDSU) vs. Deon Shafer (IUPUI) 6-2, 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
5. Thomas Gans (IUPUI) def. James Thorp (SDSU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Lucas Pereira (SDSU) vs. Armaan Choudhary (IUPUI) 6-2, 4-6, 0-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Nick Volz/Jacob Bradley (IUPUI) def. Andrea Boglic/Parker Lawley (SDSU) 8-6
2. Deon Shafer/Patrick O'Neill (IUPUI) def. James Thorp/Mateus Moreira (SDSU) 8-4
3. Lucas Pereira/Henrique Pereira (SDSU) vs. Jason Jaruvang/Jake Hedderig (IUPUI) 8-8, unfinished

Match Notes:
IUPUI 5-18
South Dakota State 11-11
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,1)
Second Semifinal of the 2013 Summit League Tournament
IUPUI will advance to face Kansas City in the Championship Match on Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m.