Feb. 17, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- No. 9 Stanford edged No. 7 Baylor 4-2 on Friday evening during the first round of the National Team Indoor Championships.
Picking up its first win over Baylor in 12 attempts, Stanford (7-3, 0-0 Pac-12) advances to face host seed and No. 2 Virginia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT.
Baylor (4-2, 0-0 Big 12) falls to the consolation bracket and will now meet No. 15 Auburn.
Despite losing the doubles point and falling behind 1-0, Stanford stormed back with four singles wins to secure the match.
The Cardinal received a boost to its lineup, as two-time All-American and 2010 NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn returned to action after missing the first nine matches due to injury.
Baylor captured the doubles point thanks to its No. 3 team, which posted a 9-8 victory.
Playing at the No. 3 position, Klahn quickly booked a 6-3, 6-2 win to even the match at 1-1.
The Bears regained the lead at 2-1 when Diego Galeano put away Denis Lin 6-3, 6-4.
However, wins from rookies Robert Stineman and John Morrissey put Stanford in front 3-2 and in position to clinch. Stineman (6-3, 6-4) won on court six before Morrissey (6-1, 1-6, 6-4) registered a win on court five. Stineman improved to 15-8 overall on the year while Morrissey is now 11-8.
That left two matches at the top of the lineup remaining, and Ryan Thacher provided the clincher with a 7-5, 7-5 triumph over Mate Zsiga at the No. 1 spot.
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No. 9 Stanford 4, No. 7 Baylor 2
DOUBLES
1) Klahn/Thacher (STAN) d. Maytin/Zsiga (BAY) 8-6
2) Krickovic/Verzaal (BAY) d. Kandath/Lin (STAN) 8-6
3) Julian Bley/Grangeiro (BAY) d. Morrissey/Stineman (STAN) 9-8
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
1) No. 29 Ryan Thacher (STAN) d. No. 25 Mate Zsiga (BAY) 7-5, 7-5
2) Matt Kandath (STAN) vs. No. 100 Roberto Maytin (BAY) abandoned
3) Bradley Klahn (STAN) d. Marko Krickovic (BAY) 6-3, 6-2
4) Diego Galeano (BAY) d. Denis Lin (STAN) 6-3, 6-4
5) John Morrissey (STAN) d. No. 98 Lars Behlen (BAY) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
6) Robert Stineman (STAN) d. Kike Grangiero (BAY) 6-3, 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 6, 5, 1