(Story courtesy of Trinity University Athletics)
Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Tiger men's tennis team dropped its first Division III match of the season in a 5-1 loss to Case Western Reserve University in Monday's NCAA Quarterfinals.
Trinity fell to 16-8 on the year and finished with a 14-1 record against D-III opponents. Case Western improves to 13-2 this season and will advance to tomorrow's NCAA Semifinals against Washington University-St. Louis.
The Tigers trailed after doubles for just the third time this season in D-III play, as Trinity lost lines one and three to start off the match. Jordan Pitts and Cameron Krimbill finished doubles with an 8-3 win at line two to keep Case Western from sweeping.
Trinity lost the first set in all but one of the six singles matches and Krimbill took a 6-2, 6-0 loss to open the singles scoring from line one. Pitts then lost 6-1, 6-1 at line five and Case Western's 4-1 lead left them on the verge of clinching the match.
Hao Nguyen was the lone Tiger player to win the opening set at #3 singles, but trailed 4-2 in the second when the match ended. Christian Settles dropped his opening set but was leading 4-3 in the second when Case Western clinched.
Wilson Hamilton lost 6-3, 6-4 in the deciding match at line four, while Alessio Azzalini was down 5-7, 0-3 in his #2 singles contest.
Head Coach Russell McMindes led the Tigers to their first appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals since the 2015 season, and has guided the team to six quarterfinals in his 12 seasons at Trinity.
Trinity's season ends with today's loss, but Krimbill will compete in the NCAA Singles Championships later this week in Chattanooga.
