Sunday, April 8
New Orleans
1 PM
Tulane University
6
vs
1
USF
Photo by: Parker Waters
No. 26/21 Men's Tennis Blows Past USF on Senior Day, 6-1
Apr 8, 2018 | Men's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS - Playing in the final home match of his collegiate career in front of his family and against an American Athletic Conference opponent the Tulane men's tennis team had not defeated since joining the league, senior Constantin Schmitz led the Green Wave to an impressive 6-1 victory over four-time reigning conference champion USF on Sunday afternoon at the City Park Tennis Center.
The Green Wave (15-6) have now won four straight matches and nine of their last 10 to close out the regular season.
"What a great day for our team," head coach and director of tennis Mark Booras said. "Constantin has been a great leader for us. Not only is he a fantastic, All-American tennis player, but he's won a number of academic awards as well. That's what we love here at Tulane with student-athletes and that process. You can come here and get ready for the pro tour, but we can also get you a great degree and Conny has been that leader for us in both ways. It's great for him to finish up on a great note like that at home."
The doubles point was a tight battle from the very start, but Tulane was able to grab a 4-3 advantage on all three courts approximately halfway through the action. Ranked 54th nationally, Schmitz and sophomore Ewan Moore kept their dominant run in place atop the lineup, closing out their opponents, 6-4, to notch their eighth straight win and improve to 11-4 in dual matches. Sophomores Tim Ruetzel and Luis Erlenbusch held on for a 6-4 triumph of their own in the No. 3 spot for their third straight victory, giving the Green Wave an early 1-0 edge over the Bulls (7-15).
The Wave claimed the first set on five of six singles courts, as junior Tyler Schick kept the momentum rolling by closing out his No. 5 singles matchup, 6-2, 6-2, for his third straight win to extend the Wave's advantage in the overall match to 2-0. USF had a response a short while later however, earning a straight set victory on court two to cut its deficit in half, 2-1, while hanging tight and forcing a third set on court three.
Tulane would surrender no more however, as Erlenbusch finished off No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-4 to push the Bulls to the brink, 3-1.
The timing just seemed so fitting that Schmitz, ranked 11th nationally, would have the opportunity to lock up his team's victory for the second time in as many days after claiming his first set, 6-4, from the No. 1 position in the lineup against 77th-ranked Alberto Barroso-Campos. The 2017 ITA All-American did just that, claiming a 6-3 decision in the second set to clinch the match and tally the 99th singles win of his decorated career.
"What an unreal, crazy four years it's been," Schmitz said. "Coming out an clinching the match for us today and winning against this team for the first time in over four years was pretty special for me and the entire team. I'm just proud to be a part of this."
Schmitz has won nine consecutive matches and owns a team-leading 26-8 overall record and 16-4 mark this spring. Sunday's victory also marked his 11th over a top-100 opponent this year.
"I'm having a great season and had a great fall, but it's a lot about confidence and right now I'm playing with a lot of it," Schmitz said. "That's what keeps me in the matches. I hope I can keep it up for the next 6-7 weeks and finish strong."
Ruetzel, who battled back from some early deficits in the No. 6 spot to claim the first set, 7-6(2), pushed the overall lead to 5-1 with a 6-3 second-set victory, before freshman Hamish Stewart rallied for a tough, three-set triumph at the No. 3 position, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1, to punch home the sixth and final point for the Green Wave.
"We've got the biggest part of the season coming up and it's great to have a bunch of wins in a row like this," Booras said. "It's going to give us the right momentum heading into postseason play."
Tulane will have a break before the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championships, which will take place April 19-22 at SMU in Dallas, Texas. Seeding for the tournament will be announced during the coming week, as the Green Wave currently stands as the No. 2 team and would receive a first round bye in that scenario.
#26 Tulane 6, South Florida 1
Singles competition
1. #11 Constantin Schmitz (TLN) def. #77 Alberto Barroso-Campos (USF) 6-4, 6-3
2. Peter Bertran (USF) def. #87 Ewan Moore (TLN) 6-4, 6-3
3. Hamish Stewart (TLN) def. Grayson Goldin (USF) 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1
4. Luis Erlenbusch (TLN) def. Pierre Luquet (USF) 6-2, 6-4
5. Tyler Schick (TLN) def. Jakub Wojcik (USF) 6-2, 6-2
6. Tim Ruetzel (TLN) def. Sean Burnette (USF) 7-6(2), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #54 Constantin Schmitz/Ewan Moore (TLN) def. Alberto Barroso-Campos/GraysonGoldin (USF) 6-4
2. Tyler Schick/Hamish Stewart (TLN) vs. Peter Bertran/Jakub Wojcik (USF) 6-5, unfinished
3. Tim Ruetzel/Luis Erlenbusch (TLN) def. Pierre Luquet/Sean Burnette (USF) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,2,4,1*,6,3)
The Green Wave (15-6) have now won four straight matches and nine of their last 10 to close out the regular season.
"What a great day for our team," head coach and director of tennis Mark Booras said. "Constantin has been a great leader for us. Not only is he a fantastic, All-American tennis player, but he's won a number of academic awards as well. That's what we love here at Tulane with student-athletes and that process. You can come here and get ready for the pro tour, but we can also get you a great degree and Conny has been that leader for us in both ways. It's great for him to finish up on a great note like that at home."
The doubles point was a tight battle from the very start, but Tulane was able to grab a 4-3 advantage on all three courts approximately halfway through the action. Ranked 54th nationally, Schmitz and sophomore Ewan Moore kept their dominant run in place atop the lineup, closing out their opponents, 6-4, to notch their eighth straight win and improve to 11-4 in dual matches. Sophomores Tim Ruetzel and Luis Erlenbusch held on for a 6-4 triumph of their own in the No. 3 spot for their third straight victory, giving the Green Wave an early 1-0 edge over the Bulls (7-15).
The Wave claimed the first set on five of six singles courts, as junior Tyler Schick kept the momentum rolling by closing out his No. 5 singles matchup, 6-2, 6-2, for his third straight win to extend the Wave's advantage in the overall match to 2-0. USF had a response a short while later however, earning a straight set victory on court two to cut its deficit in half, 2-1, while hanging tight and forcing a third set on court three.
Tulane would surrender no more however, as Erlenbusch finished off No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-4 to push the Bulls to the brink, 3-1.
The timing just seemed so fitting that Schmitz, ranked 11th nationally, would have the opportunity to lock up his team's victory for the second time in as many days after claiming his first set, 6-4, from the No. 1 position in the lineup against 77th-ranked Alberto Barroso-Campos. The 2017 ITA All-American did just that, claiming a 6-3 decision in the second set to clinch the match and tally the 99th singles win of his decorated career.
"What an unreal, crazy four years it's been," Schmitz said. "Coming out an clinching the match for us today and winning against this team for the first time in over four years was pretty special for me and the entire team. I'm just proud to be a part of this."
Schmitz has won nine consecutive matches and owns a team-leading 26-8 overall record and 16-4 mark this spring. Sunday's victory also marked his 11th over a top-100 opponent this year.
"I'm having a great season and had a great fall, but it's a lot about confidence and right now I'm playing with a lot of it," Schmitz said. "That's what keeps me in the matches. I hope I can keep it up for the next 6-7 weeks and finish strong."
Ruetzel, who battled back from some early deficits in the No. 6 spot to claim the first set, 7-6(2), pushed the overall lead to 5-1 with a 6-3 second-set victory, before freshman Hamish Stewart rallied for a tough, three-set triumph at the No. 3 position, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1, to punch home the sixth and final point for the Green Wave.
"We've got the biggest part of the season coming up and it's great to have a bunch of wins in a row like this," Booras said. "It's going to give us the right momentum heading into postseason play."
Tulane will have a break before the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championships, which will take place April 19-22 at SMU in Dallas, Texas. Seeding for the tournament will be announced during the coming week, as the Green Wave currently stands as the No. 2 team and would receive a first round bye in that scenario.
#26 Tulane 6, South Florida 1
Singles competition
1. #11 Constantin Schmitz (TLN) def. #77 Alberto Barroso-Campos (USF) 6-4, 6-3
2. Peter Bertran (USF) def. #87 Ewan Moore (TLN) 6-4, 6-3
3. Hamish Stewart (TLN) def. Grayson Goldin (USF) 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1
4. Luis Erlenbusch (TLN) def. Pierre Luquet (USF) 6-2, 6-4
5. Tyler Schick (TLN) def. Jakub Wojcik (USF) 6-2, 6-2
6. Tim Ruetzel (TLN) def. Sean Burnette (USF) 7-6(2), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #54 Constantin Schmitz/Ewan Moore (TLN) def. Alberto Barroso-Campos/GraysonGoldin (USF) 6-4
2. Tyler Schick/Hamish Stewart (TLN) vs. Peter Bertran/Jakub Wojcik (USF) 6-5, unfinished
3. Tim Ruetzel/Luis Erlenbusch (TLN) def. Pierre Luquet/Sean Burnette (USF) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,2,4,1*,6,3)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Postgame MTEN: HC Mark Booras - 4/11/25
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