Trinity Men's Tennis Closes Out Season With a Loss in NCAA Quarterfinals

Trinity Men's Tennis Closes Out Season With a Loss in NCAA Quarterfinals

(Story courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information)

MASON, Ohio - The Tiger men's tennis team was eliminated from the NCAA Playoffs in a 5-2 loss in the NCAA Quarterfinals against Middlebury College on Monday night.

Trinity was competing in the quarterfinals round for the third consecutive season, and for the fifth time in six seasons under Head Coach Russell McMindes.  Trinity and Middlebury also met in last year's NCAA Third Place match, with the Tigers taking a narrow 5-4 win in Claremont, California. 

The match started off with Middlebury taking all three doubles matches in today's contest, putting the Tigers in a deficit they could not overcome in the end.  Trinity did make it a fight in singles, though, winning the opening set in four of the six matches.  The team ultimately lost in straight sets at lines four and five, which was just enough for Middlebury.

Chas Mayer grabbed a quick win at No. 6 singles to make it 3-1, but despite a tight score, Clayton Niess then dropped his singles match at line five to put Middlebury back in full control.  Jordan Mayer made it 4-2 with his straight-set win, but it came just moments before Middlebury clinched at line four.  Adam Krull and Aaron Skinner split the first two sets from lines one and two, but both matches were halted.  Krull will compete in the NCAA Singles Championships, beginning Thursday, May 21.  

Trinity finishes the season with a 19-9 overall record, including a 15-3 mark against Division III opponents.  Today's loss also snaps the team's seven-match win streak.