From Washington University Athletics
The third time was a charm for the Washington University in St. Louis men's tennis team.
After dropping its first two matches to Emory University this season, the No. 5-ranked Bears upset the No. 4 Eagles 5-3 in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAA Division III Championship Monday at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
WashU advances to the NCAA Semifinals for the seventh time in the last eight years, and takes on No. 1-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Tuesday at 4 p.m. (ET). The Stags defeated Johns Hopkins University 5-3.
"Its always a battle playing Emory," said 14th-year head coach Roger Follmer. "Getting the 2-1 advantage after doubles was huge, and then Ross (Putterman) picking up a win at the top of the lineup gave us some new life."
WashU improves to 21-5, the second most wins in school history, while Emory ends its season with an 18-7 mark.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play after juniors Tyler Kratky and Josh Cogan earned a 9-8 (8-6) win at No. 3 doubles. The duo secured the win on its fourth match point in the tiebreaker to remain undefeated this season at 7-0.
WashU earned the first doubles point after senior Kevin Chu and freshman Jason Haugen posted an 8-4 win at No. 2. The duo had back-to-break breaks of serve in the match to avenge two losses earlier this season to Emory.
"Kevin played tremendous doubles, he's the reason we took the match the way we did," Haugen said. "The return game was working and we got to the net and were aggressive."
The Eagles picked is up its lone doubles win at No. 1 after Alex Ruderman and Ian Wagner broke senior Ross Putterman and sophomore Jeremy Bush in the final game to win 8-6. The match had 13-straight holds of serve before the break to end the match.
Putterman's loss in doubles did not affect his singles play as he posted a dominating 6-0, 6-0 win over Eric Halpern at No. 2 to make it 3-1. Putterman had lost a pair of matches to Halpern earlier in the season.
"I knew I had to come out and play more aggressive than I did the last two times when I played him. It was great to get the momentum for the team," Putterman said.
Haugen made it 4-2 with a straight-set win at No. 6 singles 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, and then freshman Johnny Wu sealed the victory with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory at No. 5. Wu trailed 4-1 before winning the final five games of the third set.
Match-by-Match Results
Doubles
1. #5 Alex Ruderman/Ian Wagner (EU) def. Jeremy Bush/Ross Putterman (WASHUM) 8-6
2. Kevin Chu/Jason Haugen (WASHUM) def. Rafe Mosetick/David Omsky (EU) 8-4
3. Josh Cogan/Tyler Kratky (WASHUM) def. Eric Halpern/Scott Rubinstein (EU) 9-9 (8-6)
Singles
1. #4 Alex Ruderman (EU) def. John Carswell (WASHUM) 6-0-, 6-1
2. #37 Ross Putterman (WASHUM) def. #13 Eric Halpern (EU) 6-0, 6-0
3. #29 Rafe Mosetick (EU) def. #45 Jeremy Bush (WASHUM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. #30 Ian Wagner (EU) vs. #14 Tyler Kratky (WASHUM) 7-5, 3-2 unfinished
5. #26 Johnny Wu (WASHUM) def. Josh Goodman (EU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
6. Jason Haugen (WASHUM) def. Aman Manji (EU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
Notes:
• The Bears are 16-5 against nationally ranked teams this season.
• WashU is 24-2 at No. 6 singles this season.
• Wu also clinched the match for the Bears in a 5-4 win over Whitman in the regional final
• The Bears have a 37-20 (.649) record in 17 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
• The Final Four appearance is the 60th all-time for WashU Athletics Department.