ETSU 4, Wofford 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The match was far closer than the final score indicated on Sunday afternoon, as the visiting Buccaneers of East Tennessee State stole a 4-1 win from the Wofford College men’s tennis team at the Westside Club.
Tension was high, as the Terriers began by taking the doubles point in dramatic fashion. Ismael Merino and Robert Herrera took the No. 2 hole first, defeating Haris Poric and Trevor Gotkowski, 8-2, leaving the Bucs to only need one of the two remaining matches to jump to an early lead.
Senior duo Rob Galloway and Walker Heffron responded. The two took on David Brosca and Rogerio Ribero at No. 1 doubles, earning an 8-4 win.
The point came down to the No. 3 spot, where Wofford’s David Sklar and Parks Thompson took on Conner Del Pino and Diego Nunez. The two sides fought back-and-forth, and despite trailing two match points, Sklar and Thompson rallied, eventually tying at 7-all. The Wofford duo found themselves behind, 3-6, in the tiebreaker before another gutsy rally proved to be enough, as Wofford claimed the win at the final doubles spot, 8-7 (8).
ETSU equalized in team points, as Del Pino took down Heffron in singles play, 6-3, 6-2. The Buccaneers lead grew as Sebastian Yllera beat freshman Parks Schoen at No. 4, 6-0, 6-3.
The final matches were tight, with no margin for error. Brosca narrowly edged Galloway at No. 1 for the third team point, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, before Ribero clinched, defeating Poric, 7-6, 2-6, 7-5.
Due to limited court space, the match spanned nearly four and a half hours.
Alabama 5, Mercer 1
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The Mercer men's tennis team fell to No. 60 Alabama on Sunday evening as the Bears wrapped up a two-match road trip.
Mercer won the doubles point to start off with a 1-0 advantage in the match. Arnav Mohanty and Arsav Mohanty defeated No. 32-ranked pairing of Korey Lovett and Becker O'Shaughnessey, to clinch the doubles point for the Bears.
Unfortunately, the Crimson Tide came in strong for singles as Alabama won five of the six singles matches to win, 5-1. Mercer could have added a second point, but Arnav Mohanty's match was called before the third set could be finished.
Next up, the Bears will wrap up non-conference play by hosting Georgia Southern on Tuesday, March 24 at 2 p.m.