Top Moment #6 Hoover’s Late Victory Leads to NBC Crown

By Leopard Nation · Published July 17, 2012 · Updated July 16, 2012

Anthony Hoover Louisville Leopards Tennis

Video of Hoover Closing Out Final Set

6. Hoover’s Late Victory Leads to NBC Crown

On April 17, the Louisville Leopards boys tennis team’s season was defined when the newest member of the NBC came to town. With all other athletic events finished for the day and all of the other tennis courts vacant, the match remained tied 2-2 with just number three singles left.

Louisville’s Anthony Hoover lost in the first set 6-2, but rallied to beat Salem’s Andrew Pietzrak 6-3 in the second set. Then things got tense at the start of the third set. A ball that appeared to land just past the back line was called out of bounds by Hoover. Pietzrak contested the call, which led to both coaches coming into the match as line judges.

Pietzrak continued to contest the call and it resulted in multiple penalty points being awarded giving Hoover a 2-0 lead. From every angle Leopards fans cheered on Hoover who used the extra motivation to his advantage. He defeated Pietzrak for the final four points of the set and blanked him for the entire set 6-0.

Also during the victory Vince Burwell & Daniel Thompson won their doubles match for Louisville 6-2, 6-4 and Michael Thomas & Ryan Shepherd dominated their match 6-1, 6-1. The 3-2 win propelled Louisville to 7-1 on the year and kept them undefeated in the NBC. On May 3, Louisville would fall at Salem 3-2 and Pietzrak would get his revenge. Nevertheless the Leopards 9-1 finish in the NBC allowed them to share the NBC Title with the Quakers.

2012 Tennis Results

Game	Date	Opponent	W-L	Louisville	Opponent
Scrim.	3/20	Orrville	4:15
1	3/26	at North Canton Hoover	L	0	5
2	3/27	at Dover	W	4	1
3	4/3	Canton South	W	5	0
4	4/5	at West Branch	W	3	2
5	4/10	Marlington	W	4	1
6	4/12	at Alliance	W	3	2
7	4/13	at GlenOak	W	3	2
8	4/17	Salem	W	3	2
9	4/18	at St. Thomas Aquinas	W	3	2
10	4/23	at Ravenna	W	5	0
11	4/24	West Branch	W	3	2
12	4/25	United Local	W	5	0
	4/26	at Marlington	Postpn
13	4/27	at United Local	W	4	1
	4/28	LOUISVILLE DOUBLES CLASSIC	Canc.
14	4/30	at Canton South	W	3	2
15	5/1	Alliance	W	4	1
16	5/2	at Green	L	1	4
17	5/3	at Salem	L	2	3
18	5/7	Perry	W	3	2
19	5/9	at Marlington	W	4	1