Mercer 6, Kennesaw State 1

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's tennis team defeated in-state foe Kennesaw State, 6-1, on Friday afternoon at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center.

The Bears dominated nearly from start to finish, winning the doubles point and the first five singles points before Anderson Scarpa dropped a three-set match at the number one spot.

Manuel de Luis clinched the match for the Bears with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the number 4 spot. Mercer played without Oliver Snaider, who is out with an injury sustained in the match against Auburn.

The anti-climactic finish is a complete turnaround from last year's match against the Golden Owls, which Mercer won, 4-3.

Next up, the Bears will face No. 34 Clemson on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. in Clemson, S.C.

Penn 5, Furman 2

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman men’s tennis team fell, 5-2, to Penn Friday at the Levy Tennis Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Paladins swept the doubles matches to win the opening point.  Juniors Matt Browne and Ben Horst downed Nicolas Podesta and Jeremy Court, 6-4, at flight one, and sophomore Adam Steryous and rookie Carmeron Green combined to defeat Josh Pompan and Marshall Sharp, 7-6, in the number two match-up.  At flight three, senior Jacob Behal and freshman Stefan Rhodes topped Vim De Alwis and Matt Nardella, 6-3.

In singles action, Penn won five out of six matches for the team victory.  Podesta downed Steryous, 6-2, 6-4, in the top-seeded match, and De Alwis bested Browne, 7-5, 6-3, at flight two.  Court posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Horst at flight three, while Pompan held on to defeat Behal, 7-6, 4-6, 1-0(10-2) in the number five match.  In the flight six contest, Blaine Willenborg recorded a 6-2, 6-3 win versus Furman sophomore Juan Sheppard.

Furman’s lone singles win came at flight four, where Green came from behind to tally a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Nardella. 

Furman (1-6) will play at Princeton Saturday at 1 p.m.