Third Set Haunts Men's Tennis in Loss at Air Force

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Creighton men's tennis team won the doubles point but lost three different three-set matches in singles play in a 5-2 loss at Air Force on Friday night.

Tonight's match was the latest in a long line of tight matches between the Bluejays and Falcons, as Creighton had won by a 4-3 score in all three meetings over the previous four seasons before Air Force (2-2) defeated Creighton (0-3) on Friday. It was Air Force's first victory over Creighton since 2008.

"Another great match between these two teams," said Creighton head coach Tom Lilly. "We were able to escape them at home the last three times but this one went their way in the big moments. We need to have a short memory and come out tomorrow morning ready for another fight."

Creighton started the night in fine fashion by earning the doubles point. After Stratton Brown and Zack Maline fell at No. 3 doubles by a 6-1 count, CU tied it up with a 7-6 victory at the No. 2 slot thanks to a win by Jose Oscar Diaz and Shin Inoue to defeat Jonathan Mascagni and Arjun Kersten. The Jays clinched the doubles win for the first time this spring when Casey Ross and Matthew Lanahan outlasted Robert Baylon and Jordan Azuma, 6-4, at the No. 1 spot.

Air Force evened the match when Nick Vroman dispatched Matthew Lanahan at No. 3 singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, only to have CU's Brown help the Bluejays retake the lead with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Mascagni at No. 2 singles.

Air Force answered when Baylon defeated Ross 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, tying the match at 2-all.

Inoue gutted out the first set (7-6) over Arjun Kersten at No. 4 singles before Kersten claimed a 6-4 win to necessitate a third set. Inoue had a chance to serve for the match in the final set, but Kersten countered and eventually earned a 7-6 triumph.

Air Force clinched the match at No. 5 singles, where Justin Waldman overcame a first set hole to defeat Diaz, 7-5, 6-0.

After forcing a third set and with the outcome of the match already decided, Creighton's Ethan Neil and USAFA's Kyle Garner played a third-set tiebreaker, which Garner won by an 11-9 margin to cap another tense match between the teams that lasted nearly four hours.

The Bluejays are back in action on Saturday at Noon Central when they take on Grand Canyon (0-2). That contest will also take place at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

2021-22 Creighton Men's Tennis
Creighton vs Air Force (Jan 21, 2022)

Air Force 5, Creighton 2
Jan 21, 2022 at Colorado Springs, Colo.

Singles competition

1. Robert Baylon (AIR FORCE) def. Casey Ross (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0

2. Stratton Brown (CU) def. Jonathan Mascagni (AIR FORCE) 6-3, 6-4

3. Nick Vroman (AIR FORCE) def. Matthew Lanahan (CU) 6-3, 6-2

4. Arjun Kersten (AIR FORCE) def. Shin Inoue (CU) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

5. Justin Waldman (AIR FORCE) def. Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) 7-5, 6-0

6. Kyle Garner (AIR FORCE) def. Ethan Neil (CU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9)

Doubles competition

1. Casey Ross/Matthew Lanahan (CU) def. Robert Baylon/Jordan Azuma (AIR FORCE) 6-4

2. Jose Oscar Diaz/Shin Inoue (CU) def. Jonathan Mascagni/Arjun Kersten (AIR FORCE) 7-6 (7-5)

3. Nick Vroman/Justin Waldman (AIR FORCE) def. Zack Maline/Stratton Brown (CU) 6-1

Match Notes

Creighton 0-3

Air Force 2-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)