Lakers Upset Cougars Before Falling To Pilots
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Roosevelt played two matches in less than 24 hours, and managed to come out with a monumental split on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Lakers men's team hosted NCAA Division I foe Chicago State on Tuesday evening and earned a historic 4-3 victory. Roosevelt traveled to Bethel (Ind.) on Wednesday and were swept 7-0 by the Pilots. The women's team was off Tuesday but did face a Bethel squad receiving votes in the latest poll, falling 6-1 in Indiana.
The story for the men against Chicago State was Victor Dorojan playing at the No. 3 singles position. He ended up being the last man on the court for the Lakers after the Cougars failed to finish off Roosevelt at the bottom of the lineup. Chicago State won the doubles point with ease then took home wins at the first and second singles spots.
The Lakers claimed a point at No. 4 singles due to a default then Florian Van Der Brink had a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6. Shortly thereafter, Demille Scarabello tied the match with a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles to put all eyes on Dorojan. The Illinois native easily won the first set 6-2, but was at risk of being forced to a super tiebreak when he was 0-40 down trailing 4-3 in the second set. Yet Dorojan rallied to capture that pivotal eighth game and the next two games to secure the historic victory.
There was not as much luck Wednesday against Bethel after the Pilots ripped through the doubles point and continued the momentum into singles. Dorojan and Felipe Penuela both battled to a 6-4 scoreline in the first sets of their singles matches before losing 6-2 in the second. Justus Peters nearly claimed the second set off his opponent at No. 2 singles, but dropped a heartbreaking 7-5 set to fall in straight sets.
Rebecca Geiger was the clear MVP for the Lakers women's team after claiming the only point for Roosevelt in the match. She took home her victory in straight sets at No. 2 singles to give the Lakers some life. Geiger also teamed up with Alejandra Chavez at No. 2 doubles to force a tiebreaker in a match that brought some momentum to the senior from Germany.
Ximena Mercado also played an excellent match at No. 5 singles, jumping out to an early 6-2 win in the first set. Even after losing the second set by the same scoreline, she forced extra points in the third-set super tiebreak before falling 11-9.
The Lakers return to action Saturday at Augustana with the men playing at 2 p.m. then the women following at 5 p.m.
Men's Results
Roosevelt 4, Chicago State 3
No. 1 Doubles – Yazid Benchegra/Justus Peters lost 6-0
No. 2 Doubles – Victor Dorojan/Felipe Penuela lost 6-1
No. 3 Doubles – David Hofmann/Demille Scarabello lost 6-2
No. 1 Singles – Yazid Benchegra lost 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Singles – Justus Peters lost 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 Singles – Victor Dorojan won 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Singles – Roosevelt wins by forfeit
No. 5 Singles – Demille Scarabello won 6-0, 6-4
No. 6 Singles – Florian Van Der Brink won 6-1, 6-3
Bethel (Ind.) 7, Roosevelt 0
No. 1 Doubles – Justus Peters/ Felipe Penuela lost 6-1
No. 2 Doubles – Victor Dorojan/Florian Van Der Brink lost 6-1
No. 3 Doubles – David Hofmann/Demille Scarabello lost 6-2
No. 1 Singles – Victor Dorojan lost 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 Singles – Justus Peters lost 6-2, 7-5
No. 3 Singles – Demille Scarabello lost 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 Singles – Felipe Penuela lost 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Singles – David Hofmann lost 6-3, 6-0
No. 6 Singles – Florian Van Der Brink lost 6-1, 6-2
Women's Results
Bethel (Ind.) 6, Roosevelt 1
No. 1 Doubles – Teodora Petrica/Alyssa Owens lost 6-2
No. 2 Doubles – Alejandra Chavez/Rebecca Geiger lost 7-6 (4)
No. 3 Doubles – Ximena Mercado/Malena Moya lost 6-3
No. 1 Singles – Teodora Petrica lost 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Singles – Rebecca Geiger won 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 Singles – Grace Hahn lost 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 Singles – Alyssa Owens lost 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 Singles – Ximena Mercado lost 2-6, 6-2, 11-9
No. 6 Singles – Alejandra Chavez lost 6-2, 6-2