Specht wins 3-set thriller in deciding match in 5-4 victory over Lourdes

Specht wins 3-set thriller in deciding match in 5-4 victory over Lourdes
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September 9, 2023

ADA — Junior Peyton Specht (Munster, Ind.) won a 3-set thriller to break a 4-4 tie and lead the Ohio Northern men's tennis team to a 5-4 victory over Lourdes on Saturday afternoon at the West Campus Courts.

The Basics

  • Records: Ohio Northern (4-0), Lourdes (0-1)
  • Venue: West Campus Courts — Ada, Ohio

The Match

  • The match was tied 4-4 when Specht closed out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles to give ONU the 5-4 victory.
  • Specht and freshman Tyler Wood (Toledo/St. John's Jesuit) won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles and senior Kavya Desai (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and sophomore Nico Rogel (Alicante, Spain/Hoosac) won 8-6 at No. 3 doubles as ONU led 2-1 heading into singles play.
  • Wood won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and freshman Kessler Hackenberger (Tipp City/Tippecanoe) won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 6 singles to give ONU 4 points.
  • The Grey Wolves won at No. 1 doubles and Nos. 1, 4 and 5 singles.

Notables

  • This was the first ever meeting between the Polar Bears and the Grey Wolves.
  • The 4-0 start is the best for ONU since the 2002-03 squad opened its season 5-0.
  • Sean Swisher improved to 17-8 in his second season as head coach of the ONU men's tennis team.

Up Next

The Polar Bears return to action Sept. 15-16 at the Hope (Mich.) Invitational.