LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Five of the seven Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s tennis teams competed this week.
Austin College, Schreiner University and Southwestern University each took on NAIA Arizona Christian University, while Colorado College faced NCAA Division II Palm Beach Atlantic.
Southwestern also faced off against Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University this week. Texas Lutheran took on regionally-ranked LeTourneau University.
Austin College
The ‘Roos hosted Arizona Christian University over the weekend, but fell 9-0 to the Firestorm. ACU won the top two doubles matches with ease, but the duo of Jacob Morgan and Jeff Kubena put up a fight in the third line, eventually falling 9-7. With a 3-0 lead heading into singles, ACU continued their run, taking the top four matches in straight sets. In the fifth-line, Kubena battled it out against his opponent, rallying back from a 1-6 loss in the first set to take the second 6-4. His Firestorm opponent won the tiebreaker.
Colorado College
The Tigers suffered a 9-0 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday in the Tigers' home finale of the 2014-15 season. The Sailfish jumped out to a 3-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles matches Jack Berger and Jason Gutierrez fell 8-2 at the No. 1 spot, while Jack Benham and Casey Shaw put up a battle in the second line, falling 8-5. Palm Beach Atlantic kept the momentum going in the singles matches, winning all six in straight sets. Gutierrez fell 7-5, 6-0 at the No. 1 position, while Burger was defeated 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot. Taylor Delehanty put up the best fight for CC before falling 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5.
Schreiner University
The Mountaineers battled it out with Arizona Christian this week, but couldn’t take down the Firestorm, falling 8-1. ACU took all three doubles matches to enter singles action with a 3-0 lead. Three Mountaineers took their opponent to a third set tiebreaker, with Austin Carrola earning SU’s lone point, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in the No. 2 spot. Nick Pena fell in the top spot 4-6, 6-1, 10-3, and Josh Ramirez came up short, 6-1, 3-6, 10-2.
Southwestern University
The Pirates took on three teams this week, going 2-1 overall. They began with Arizona Christian at home, defeating the Firestorm 5-4. ACU got out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play, winning the top two matches. The duo of Sam McCready and Oliver Farmen cruised to an 8-0 win in the third line for SU’s first point. In singles play, Niko Snovely got things started with a three-set win in the top line, 3-6, 6-0, 10-7. Farmen won his match at No. 3 singles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, while Neik Khansari and McCready earned straight-set wins to give SU the final points to secure the match at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. The Pirates faced off against Hardin-Simmons this weekend, defeating the Cowboys 9-0 on the road. Grant Gideon and Snovely teamed up in the top doubles spot, taking down their opponent 8-3, while Rod Khansari and William Ellis earned an 8-3 win in the second line. Farmen and McCready put up their second win of the week in the third spot. Snovely and Ayinde Hall faced the most challenge in singles, each winning their matches in three-sets, but it was all Pirates from then on as the remaining four matches were decided in straight sets. To close out the week, the Pirates took on McMurry University, but fell 6-3 to the War Hawks. Snovely/Gideon and McCready/Farmen won their doubles matches, giving SU a 2-1 lead heading into singles. Gideon was the only Pirate able to pick up a singles win, doing so in the No. 4 spot as he gave up just two games in route to a 6-1, 6-1 win.
Texas Lutheran University
The Bulldogs posted a 5-4 win over regionally-ranked LeTourneau University this weekend. The duo of Sanio Disdarevic and Cliff Pack faced the most opposition in doubles action, winning their match 9-8 (7-4) before the Bulldogs entered singles with a 3-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets took the top three singles matches, tying the score up at three apiece. Kyle Thompson earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win in the fourth spot and Eric Beckenbach took the No. 6 spot 6-2, 6-2, to secure the Bulldogs win.