NCAA Final for the Ages
Ohio States’s Doubles Team of Kevin Metka and Peter Kobelt competed in as close of a NCAA finals match as possible. They played the Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese and fell just short 6-7 (4) 7-6 (3) 6-7 (8). It was the closest Men’s Doubles Finals match in modern NCAA (since 1977) history, marking the first time that 3 tiebreak sets were played. There were no breaks of serve in the entire match. Ohio State fought off some break points, including match points at 5-6 in the 2nd, whereas Tennessee never faced a break point the entire match.
Metka and Kobelt were 2 points away from a wild card birth into the US Open. Peter finished his career playing one of the most memorable matches of all time, posting 142 career doubles wins, first all time at Ohio State. Kevin returns next year, after posting 43 doubles wins this year, 3rd all time for a single season at OSU.
The commentators on numerous occasions commented on the ATP level quality of the match, and said they would put Metka and Kobelt against anyone in the world besides the Bryan Brothers on a grass court. Congratulations to the Tennessee team as they continued to hit excellent volleys on huge points. Congratulations to both Metka and Kobelt on an incredible run, and the team on an amazing season.
In addition to 42 doubles wins, Kevin’s season included:
ITA Midwest Indoor Doubles Champions
ITA National Indoor Doubles Consolation Champions
ITA Team Indoor Champions (Clinching win over Texas in qtr and Virginia in semis)
ITA National Indoor All Tournament Team at #1 Doubles and #5 Singles
Big 10 Champions
NCAA Team Championships Quarterfinalist (Saved Match Points in Clinching Match vs Florida)
NCAA All Tournament Team in Doubles with Herko Pollanen
NCAA Doubles Finalist
The match is being replayed on ncaa.com here
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