Jacks Stun Creighton

Sunday, April 12

Omaha, Neb.

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

Creighton

4/12/2015 7:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: SDSU Sports Info

OMAHA, NEB. — The South Dakota State men's team stunned Creighton, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the Koch Tennis Center.

For the second time this season, Parker Lawley clinched the victory for the Jackrabbits, downing Quinn Dippel in a decisive third set at second singles with the match knotted at three apiece.

Previously, the Jackrabbits were 0-8 against the Bluejays in the Division I era, with six of their losses coming by a 7-0 margin.

“Today was another step forward in the right direction for our program,” head coach Michael Engdahl said. “Creighton is a very well coached team that has been playing some great tennis this year. We were able to go toe to toe with them and come out with the win.”

South Dakota State opened the match on a high note by winning the doubles point. After Lawley and Andrea Boglic downed Jake Norman and Elliott Baker, 8-3, at first doubles, Gary Notkin and Stefano Blatt secured the point with a tight 8-6 victory over Alex Koca and August Nysted at second doubles.

Victories by Boglic and Lovro Curcija at first and third singles set up Lawley's heroics. After topping Norman, 6-2, in the first set, Boglic dropped the second, 6-1. But he rallied to score a 6-3 win in the third set to earn the point. Curcija topped Koca in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

Lawley jumped out to the lead with a 6-3 victory in the first set but fell in the second, 6-1. With the match on the line, Lawley dispatched Dippel in the third set, 6-4.

“Our seniors really stepped up today and played smart tennis when we needed them the most,” Engdahl said.

The win lifts the Jackrabbits to 12-8 (1-2 SL) and gives them a boost going into their match with Omaha tomorrow at 12 p.m.

“We're going to carry this momentum into tomorrow's Summit League match,” Engdahl said.

NOTES: Lawley sealed South Dakota State's 4-3 victory over Oral Roberts Mar. 29 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win over Jan Pehnec at third singles … Lawley and Boglic are 14-3 at first doubles … Curcija and Lawley remain tied for the team lead in singles wins, each scoring his 11th … Blatt has now won with three different doubles partners this season (Notkin, Curcija and Henrique Pereira).