Stetson 4, Appalachian State 3
DELAND, Fla. – Appalachian State University men’s tennis came up one point short in a 4-3 loss to Stetson to open a three-match road swing.
The Mountaineers (4-4) were able to pick up three singles wins, but the Hatters (4-5) were able to take the doubles point, which proved to be the difference in the end.
Two of the three doubles went into a tiebreak situation while two singles matches went to a decisive third set and one went to a third-set tiebreak.
Appalachian picked up wins at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles. Sebastien King came away with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 1 while Oliver Casey snagged a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 2. Matt Saltsgaver played the most exciting match of the day in the No. 6 spot.
Saltsgaver, who dropped the first set in a tiebreak (6-7 (4-7)), picked up a 6-2 win in the second set and then earned a 10-5 victory in the tiebreak. The Mountaineers dropped the remaining three singles flights in straight sets.
In doubles play, the No. 1 tandem of King/Zach Bost fell 8-7 (7-5), while Casey/Daniel Hoang dropped an 8-6 match at No. 2. The No. 3 team of Steve Lake/Jan-Willem Kleynhans battled throughout its match, but finally lost 8-7 (7-4).
Appalachian continues its week in the Sunshine State when it takes on Bethune-Cookman tomorrow at 10 a.m. before wrapping up the week with a noon contest against Florida A&M on Friday.
James Madison 5, The Citadel 2
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel tennis team came up short against James Madison on Wednesday, falling 5-2 at the Earle Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs slipped to 2-16 while JMU improved to 4-5.
Although the Dukes were able to secure the doubles point, The Citadel's Jackson Pride and Peter Bleach recorded their fourth win of the season in the No. 2 position over Maxi Branth and Alex Berdnioff, 8-6.
In singles play, Elliott Sperr knocked out the Dukes' Robert Stirling in two sets, 7-6, 6-3, to capture his fourth victory of the year.
Bleach, the Bulldogs' No. 3 player, posted his third win by defeating Mijan Ruzic 6-4, 6-4.
The Citadel netters return to the courts Saturday to host a doubleheader, facing Old Dominion at 9 a.m., followed by Iowa at 2 p.m.