University of Louisville senior men’s tennis player Sebastian Stiefelmeyer was having such a good weekend that he rolled it over into Monday.
Stiefelmeyer won the singles title in the 2014 Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championships on Monday afternoon in Tulsa, Okla. He defeated second-seeded Yannick Hanfmann of Southern California 6-3, 6-2 in the final to become the first UofL player to win the fall national title.
It was a Cinderella march for Stiefelmeyer, who was No. 110 in the ITA preseason rankings. Beginning with the qualifying draw he won nine straight matches - upsetting six players ranked ahead of him (including two Top 10 opponents) along the way - on his way to the title. Stiefelmeyer knocked off New Mexico’s Samir Ifikhar 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) in the Round of 16 and Tulane’s Dominik Koepfer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals Saturday before beating Virginia’s Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in Sunday’s semifinals.
Here’s what else happened in UofL sports over the weekend:
The football team’s defense did it again, recording two interceptions and two safeties while holding host Syracuse to only 255 yards of total offense in the Cardinals’ 28-6 Atlantic Coast Conference win over the Orange on Friday night. Meanwhile Brandon Radcliff rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns while freshman quarterback Reggie Bonnafon threw for 174 yards and one TD in his second straight start. Louisville (5-1, 3-1), which now leads FBS in total defense and rushing defense, plays at 25th-ranked Clemson (3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
It was a huge weekend for the field hockey team, which posted a pair of victories over ranked opponents at home. First, 12th-ranked UofL downed No. 4 Duke 2-1 in an ACC match Friday night in Trager Stadium. Then, the Cards edged 15th-ranked Michigan 2-1 in double overtime Sunday afternoon. Erin McCrudden and Elisa Garcia scored first-half goals to boost UofL to victory against the Blue Devils. Then, Lotta Kahlert’s goal in the second minute of double OT lifted Louisville over the Wolverines for its 16th straight home win and its fifth victory over a ranked foe this season. The Cards trailed 1-0 late in regulation before Mallory Mason tipped in Garcia’s shot with less than five minutes left to force OT. UofL (10-2, 3-1) next plays at 13th-ranked Syracuse at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams finished sixth and 13th, respectively, in the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park. Juniors Ernest Kibet and Edwin Kibichiy led the men’s team, finishing third and fourth, respectively, and classmate Japhet Kipkoech added an 18th-place finish. Meanwhile freshman Kelsie Schwartz led the women’s team, placing 38th overall. Both teams next compete in the Pre Nationals, which will take place Oct. 18 in Terre Haute, Ind.
The fifth-ranked men’s soccer team suffered its first ACC loss, falling 2-1 at North Carolina State on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C. Trailing 2-0 freshman Tim Kubel scored the Cards’ lone goal in the 83rd minute off a free kick. UofL (5-3-1, 3-1-0) next hosts 16th-ranked Indiana at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night at Lynn Stadium.
The women’s soccer team played Duke to a scoreless tie in an ACC match Saturday night in Durham, N.C. The Cards (4-5-2, 1-1-2), who were outshot 15-8 by the Blue Devils, next host N.C. State at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Lynn Stadium.
The volleyball team split matches in Virginia in its first ACC road trip of the season. The Cards edged host Virginia Tech 3-2 (25-19, 14-25, 28-26, 18-25, 15-11) Friday night, but Virginia downed Louisville 3-1 Saturday. Tess Clark had 16 kills and five blocks to lead UofL over the Hokies. Meanwhile Manual High School graduate Maya McClendon’s 17 kills and four blocks went in vain in the Cavaliers’ 25-23, 11-25, 25-18, 25-22 triumph over the Cards. UofL (10-6, 2-2) next hosts Florida State at 7 p.m. Friday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
Photo courtesy of the University of Louisville Men’s Tennis Facebook Page
