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Wildcats Defeat #24 Auburn for Second-Straight Sweet 16 Berth

by arizonawildcats.com
May 4, 2024

TUCSON - No. 9 Arizona Men's Tennis secured its spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships on Saturday, sweeping No. 24 Auburn 4-0. The Wildcats (26-3, 7-1 Pac-12) have swept their last three opponents. 

The Sweet 16 spot is the third for the Wildcats in the last four seasons after the team made it to the round in 2021 and 2023.
 

 

The Wildcats took the doubles point with ease against the Tigers (18-11, 7-5 SEC). Courts two and three wrapped up within minutes of each other with Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham defeating Will Nolan and Tyler Stice 6-3 on court two.

Sasha Rozin and Gustaf Strom clinched the team point, taking down Billy Blaydes and Nicholas Heng 6-3 to give Arizona the 1-0 advantage going into singles play.

The Wildcats took all six first sets in singles competition, and Hoeyeraal made quick work of his match with a straight-set 6-3, 6-4 victory over Raul Dobai. Hoeyeraal's win was his 20th of the 2024 dual match season and set a program record for single-season dual match singles victories.

Nick Lagaev put the Wildcats a point away from the team win with a defeat of Nolan, 7-5, 6-3, on court six, and No. 22 Smith was the clincher, gutting out a 7-5, 6-3 win over 31st-ranked Stice on court one.

The Wildcats will travel to New York, N.Y., for the super regional at eight-seed Columbia. The date and time for that match will be announced at a later time.

Results
#9 Arizona 4, #24 Auburn 0
Doubles Competition
Order of finish: 2, 3

  1. #46 Colton Smith/Jay Friend vs. #21 Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett 2-4, unfinished
  2. Herman Hoeyeraal/Eric Padgham def. Will Nolan/Tyler Stice 6-3
  3. Sasha Rozin/Gustaf Strom def. Billy Blaydes/Nicholas Heng 6-3

Singles Competition
Order of finish: 4, 6, 1

  1. #22 Colton Smith def. #37 Tyler Stice 7-5, 6-3
  2. #35 Jay Friend vs. #63 Finn Murgett 7-6(3), 5-5, unfinished
  3. #70 Gustaf Strom vs. Bill Blaydes 6-2, 6-6(8-9)
  4. Herman Hoeyeraal def. Raul Dobai 6-3, 6-4
  5. Casper Christensen vs. Nicholas Heng 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
  6. Nick Lagaev def. Will Nolan 7-5, 6-3

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