WACO, Texas – The sixth-ranked Columbia men's tennis team battled down the stretch, but ultimately fell short to No. 4 Ohio State, 4-2 on Saturday in a consolation match at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Columbia moves to 5-3 overall this season following its fifth straight match against an opponent ranked inside the top 25. The Lions are now 3-3 against ranked opponents so far this season.
Ohio State claimed the doubles point to hold an early advantage in Saturday's match. The Buckeyes won the doubles two and three matches to secure the doubles point. The No. 45 duo of
Michael Zheng and
Nicolas Kotzen posted a 6-3 win over Will Jansen and Aidan Kim in the top doubles match.
The Buckeyes stretched the lead out to start singles as Bryce Nakashima defeated
Sachin Palta in the No. 5 singles. Columbia responded with victories in the one and two singles to even the team score, 2-2.
No. 40 Kotzen cruised in two sets to a 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 47 Alexander Bernard in the No. 2 singles. No. 1 Zheng needed just two sets to get past No. 22 Kim, 7-5, 6-2 in the top singles match.
The Columbia rally ultimately stalled as Ohio State posted wins in the four and six singles to secure the 4-2 team victory. The Lions will have one more chance to earn a win this weekend with the final consolation match on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Columbia will face the loser of today's Baylor vs. Duke match.
RESULTS
#4 Ohio State 4, #6 Columbia 2
Doubles
1. #45
Michael Zheng/
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. Will Jansen/Aidan Kim (OSU) 6-3
2. Bryce Nakashima/Preston Stearns (OSU) def. #86
Max Westphal/
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-2
3. Nikita Filin/Brandon Carpico (OSU) def. #62
Hugo Hashimoto/
Jayden Templeman (COL) 6-3
Singles
1. #1
Michael Zheng (COL) def. #22 Aidan Kim (OSU) 7-5, 6-2
2. #40
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. #47 Alexander Bernard (OSU) 6-4, 6-2
3.
Max Westphal (COL) vs. #106 Will Jansen (OSU) 1-6, 6-3, 3-3 (unfinished)
4. Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. #41
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) 6-4, 6-2
5. Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def.
Sachin Palta (COL) 6-1, 6-1
6. Preston Stearns (OSU) def.
Thanaphat Boosarawongse (COL) 7-6(4), 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,1,4,6)
UP NEXT
Columbia is back in action Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET for the final match of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. An opponent will be determined later tonight following the completion of the Baylor vs. Duke match.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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