NIIC Semifinals Are Set

The semifinals are set at the National Indoor Intercollegiates with both top seeds pushing through while both second seeds got shown the door. The men’s top seed Ohio State junior Mikael Torpegaard only dropped six games in two easy wins while the women’s top seed Ohio State sophomore Francesca Di Lorenzo won a straight setter before getting past Vanderbilt’s Sydney Campbell in three sets. 

Georgia junior Wayne Montgomery upset the men’s second seed Virginia senior Thai-Son Kwiatkowski in a match where Kwiatkowski actually won seven more points. Montgomery took the opening set 6-3 but Kwiatkowski won a quick 6-1 second set. Montgomery broke Kwiatkowski on the no-ad point to go ahead 4-2 in the third and then a few games later he served it out from 40/15 to take it 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Montgomery wouldn’t have much time to relish in his big win because he had to face the hot-serving Chris Eubanks a few hours later. 

The Georgia Tech junior won 84% of his first-serve points and fought off all three break points in a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ohio State’s Hugo Di Feo. Eubanks would serve just as well against Montgomery winning 82% of his first-serve points and once again he failed to yield a break in a 7-5, 6-3 win. Eubanks was the only player to not be broken all day long. 

Volunteer coach Kevin King made this comment in Georgia Tech’s recap: “Chris did a good job playing two complete matches today. In the first match he was able to dictate very well and stay on top of his opponent from the beginning. This afternoon, the match was pretty even at the start. Chris did a great job of digging out a tough hold to go up 4-3 in the first set. From there he was able to gain the momentum and get a late break to win the set and an early break in the second. Chris managed his service games well and closed out the match strong.”

Mississippi State sophomore Nuno Borges won a tough three setter over Cal senior Florian Lakat despite Lakat hammering 16 aces and actually winning one more total point. Borges came back a few hours later and defeated Wake Forest junior Skander Mansouri 7-5, 6-1 which meant Borges became the first player in program history to make it past the NIIC quarterfinals.

“We’re excited for Nuno and proud of all he’s accomplished so far at the National Indoor Championship,” head coach Matt Roberts said. “Today he had two of the best matches in his career at MSU and showed an amazing mental fortitude. Nuno had two tough challenges and answered the call like we knew he would. He’s represented MSU well in New York and I’m excited to watch him continue to grow and develop over the weekend.”

Arkansas senior Mike Redlicki became the fourth and final semifinalist after he got past Wake Forest sophomore Petros Chrysochos. Redlicki dropped the opening set 6-0 before rallying to win the second set 6-1. Redlicki served for the match up 5-4 in the third but he got broke on the no-ad point when his forehand hit the tape and kicked just wide. Redlicki managed to break back from 15/40 and then he served it out from 40/30 with a nice serve out wide followed up by a mid-court forehand winner into the open court. Below are some comments from Arkansas’s recap:

“Mike continues to beat elite-level guys and prove to be an elite-level guy himself with his play this fall,” head coach Andy Jackson said. “The match with Petros was intense and well-played, and Mike played really tough and smart. It’s a great honor for him to advance to the semifinals at this tournament and it will present a great challenge tomorrow.”

R16 Interesting Facts:

• Florian Lakat (16) and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (13) hit the most aces but lost.
• Gage Brymer (8) and Petros Chrysochos (5) hit the most double faults but won. 
• Four players won over 80% of their first serve points – Mansouri 86% (W), Eubanks 84% (W), Lakat 82% (L), Redlicki 81% (W)