Charger men’s tennis lost 4-2 in both of their away matches against top teams in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference April 4-5. The Chargers now stand 9-7 overall and 3-2 in the G-MAC.
The Chargers faced the University of Findlay Oilers on Friday, losing the point in doubles play and three of six matches in singles play.
In doubles play, the Chargers lost all three matches, with both sophomore duo Henry Hammond and Ellis Klanduch at No. 1 doubles and freshmen Ryan Papazov and Rintaro Goda at No. 3 doubles losing against the Oilers in a 10-8 tiebreaker.
In singles play, Klanduch won at No. 2 singles and freshman Samuel Plys won at No. 4 singles. At No. 5 singles, freshman Eddie Bergelin was outplayed by his opponent in a 7-2 second set tiebreaker after losing the first set 1-6, giving the Oilers their fourth point to clinch the match.
Freshman Rintaro Goda, who played at No. 6 singles, said his match was cut short because the Chargers were playing to clinch.
“It was me and Eddie who hadn’t finished and the overall score was 2-3 for Findlay,” Goda said. “So my match got stopped because Eddie lost and that determined that Findlay won.”
The Chargers’ fate rolled over into Saturday’s match against three-time defending GMAC Champion Tiffin University, with the Chargers losing the doubles point in doubles play and three of six singles matches in the singles play.
In doubles play, No. 1 doubles pair Hammond and Klanduch earned Hillsdale its only doubles win in a 7-3 tiebreaker.
In singles play, Papazov won at No. 1 singles after losing 7-4 in a first set tiebreaker and winning the next two sets 7-5, 6-1. Plys was also successful in singles play, winning 7-5, 6-3, at No. 3 singles.
Head coach Keith Turner said he moved Plys up in the singles lineup this weekend to see how he would perform against tougher competition.
“He continues to get the job done,” Turner said. “He’s showing he can hang with the top players in the conference.”
Despite the losses over the weekend, Turner said the matches drew the Chargers a better picture of where they stand compared to other teams in the G-MAC.
“It should give us confidence that we aren’t far behind the top teams in the conference,” Turner said.
The Chargers are scheduled to play the Northwood University Timberwolves at home April 12.
Director of Athletics John Tharp encourages students to come watch Charger men’s tennis play.
“It is a joy to watch your classmates compete at a very high level of tennis,” Tharp said. “The exciting matches are intense and support will only inspire our student athletes even more.”
