Vusa Hove shines

Michigan, 4-2, in the Mid-American Conference semi-finals at the Huskie Varsity Courts.
The Bulls finished the season with a 9-10 overall record.

Senior Hove claimed one of UB’s points in the final match of his career. Hove needed three sets to dispose of Nadin Indre, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 for his team-leading 19th of the season. The win was Hove’s 74th of his singles career, second on UB’s all-time list, and his sixth consecutive win, five of which came in three-set matches.

Hove was named to the All-Tournament squad for the second consecutive season and will leave UB with 123 combined singles and doubles wins, third on that list. He also will finish as UB’s all-time singles winning percentage leader.

In his four seasons, Hove compiled a 74-31 singles record for a winning percentage of .705.
Freshman Pablo Alvarez, at fourth singles, also scored a victory with his 6-4, 6-2 win over Ruben Greiner. Alvarez finished the season with three straight wins from his singles slot. He finished 11-8 in singles play during the spring after joining the team in January.

Sophomore Damien David led the Bulls with 16 doubles wins during the season. In last Friday’s MAC semi-final, David teamed-up with Hove to score a win in the number one match as the duo Indre and Ruben Greiner, 8-1. David had nine doubles victories during the spring season, including seven with Akhil Mehta as the pair comprised the number one combo for most of the dual-meet season. He also had seven doubles wins during the fall tournament season. His 29 doubles wins in his two-year career are tied for 21st on UB’s all-time list with Travis Zappia (2010-12).

Following the Bulls’ loss last Friday, head coach Lee Nickell commented on the match.
“Our season came down to mental toughness and we just couldn’t overcome our hurdles,” said Nickell. “We spent more than enough time on court practicing, but failed when it came down to sport psychology. That being said, we have a great group of guys who have done everything that we have asked.”
Nickell later cited Hove in particular as the senior completed his UB career.