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On Sunday, for the third straight season—and the 13th time in program history— the No. 3 Ohio State men’s tennis team won the Big Ten Tournament. In the finals against No. 8 Illinois, the Buckeyes quickly found themselves trailing after losing the first doubles set. However, OSU picked up breaks on courts 1 and 2 to earn the doubles point before singles play began. From there, it was fairly smooth sailing, as the Buckeyes swept the first three singles matches, and were ahead in the other three that were left unfinished.
2016:
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 29, 2018
2017:
2018: @OhioState_MTEN makes it three @bigten titles in a row. pic.twitter.com/scPSXhExQL
The three OSU victories belong to No. 5 Mikael Torpegaard over No. 16 Aleks Vukic, 6-3, 6-1; No. 40 JJ Wolf over Aron Hiltzik, 6-2, 6-3; and No. 101 John McNally upsetting No. 83 Alex Brown, 6-2, 6-3.
Buckeyes No. 95 Kyle Seelig, No. 110 Martin Joyce, and Hunter Tubert were all ahead when Illinois was mathematically eliminated.
With their 13th-straight regular season championship to go along with their third-consecutive tournament title, the Buckeyes will now set their sights on the NCAA Tournament. The selection show takes place on Tuesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. EDT.
The NCAA men’s and women’s team finals will come from Winston Salem, N.C., on May 22. Last season, OSU was eliminated in the semifinals, but no doubt the Buckeyes have their sights set on celebrating like this at Wake Forest next month.
What to know what it’s like to celebrate at Big Ten Championship?? pic.twitter.com/J1ADORbQSY
— Ohio State M Tennis (@OhioState_MTEN) April 29, 2018