Hoosiers continue play in summer

Stephen Vogl and Maxime Armengaud were newcomers to the Hoosier tennis squad last summer.

A year later, these sophomores are winning singles and doubles titles during their Intercollegiate Tennis Association Summer Circuit matches.

As if 29 matches in four months were not enough, members of the men’s tennis team are hitting the courts for match play this summer with the summer circuit, a group of organized matches in separate regions developed by Indiana’s women’s tennis coach Lin Loring.

Juniors Santiago Gruter and J. Julis Bolock along with sophomores Jeremy Langer, Jonathon Schroeder, Vogl and Armengaud have been competing in the Midwest Region.

“The more matches over summer, the better you are for season,” Vogl said.

From July 11-14, the Hoosiers played at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Langer, the No. 2 seed in singles, beat Schroeder in the opening round 7-6 (7-6), 6-4. Langer lost three rounds later, in the quarterfinals, to Michael Sicora of Kalamazoo College 7-5, 6-2.

Bolock lost to Purdue’s Billy Heuer in the second round, while Vogl lost to University of Michigan’s Christopher Madden in the third round.

The No. 3-seeded Gruter was put away 6-4, 6-2 by a familiar face, teammate Armengaud, in the finals. Armengaud did not drop a set throughout the tournament.

“You’re playing against college students, and hopefully if you keep winning, it helps you build up your confidence,” Gruter said. “I think that’s important.”

But Gruter got his revenge against Armengaud when Gruter teamed up with Langer to beat Armengaud and Vogl 8-6 in the doubles final.

For a doubles duo that is playing its first matches together, Vogl said he felt confident about his and Armengaud’s performance.

“Max and I, we were able to figure it out by the second match, so it didn’t take too long,” he said. “He has things that I lack and I have things that he lacks, so it’s a good combination.”

Just four days later, some of the Cream and Crimson players returned to their turf. Bolock lost 6-4, 6-3 in the first round to Toledo’s Leo Sarris. Armengaud lost in the third round 6-3, 6-4 to Tariq Ismail of Youngstown.

Losing in the semifinals, Gruter knocked off three opponents before withdrawing in the third set of his quarterfinals match. Schroeder withdrew in the third set of his quarterfinals match against George Navas from the University of Michigan.

Vogl, who went 6-5 in solo play during the spring season, dropped only one set on his way to the singles title, beating Devin McCarthy of Ohio State 7-6, 6-2.

“In Michigan I think Stephen had a pretty good tournament,” Gruter said. “I think that was huge for him.”

Vogl’s winning ways carried over to doubles when he and Armengaud defeated teammates Bolock and Gruter in the semifinal before defeating the Wolverines’ Mike DePietro and Navas 9-7.

“I’ve been trying to play as much as I can, just trying to get better,” Vogl said. “It’s not all about practicing. You have to play matches, too.”