Sophomore Sam Plys won his first set of singles
Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletics Department
The men’s tennis team dropped two matches on the road, falling 7-0 to Ferris State University Feb. 21, and 4-3 to Davenport University Feb. 22.
Ferris State controlled the match on Saturday, winning all 7 points and losing just two sets in the process. Despite the score, sophomore Sam Plys won his first set in singles. He would go on to drop the second and ultimately lose in the third set tiebreak.
“Nobody likes to lose, and it is a greater challenge to find a way to win when the score is not going my way,” Plys said.
Sophomore Alex Cordero Lopez spent almost two hours on the court. Dropping the first set 7-5 to Ferris State’s Andrew Vincler, Lopez bounced back with a 7-5 second set win but lost the tiebreak.
The Chargers then traveled about 70 miles south to take on the Davenport Panthers.
“Ferris State was a strong team,” head coach Keith Turner said. “But we responded by playing the best doubles of the year against Davenport.”
After losing their doubles matches on Saturday, sophomore duo Ryan Papazov and Sam Plys won 6-3 on doubles court No. 2, and freshmen duo Jackson Clements and Patrick Cretu didn’t drop a game, winning 6-0 in just 20 minutes on doubles court No. 3.
“I was very impressed with the doubles from our freshmen this weekend,” Plys said. “They played a high-level of tennis and were able to play consistently throughout the whole match.”
On singles court No. 2, junior Henry Hammond dropped his first singles set 7-5, but he fought back to claim the second set 7-5 and the third set 6-3.
“We played better in singles than against Ferris,” Coach Turner said. “Henry Hammond played a great match.”
On singles court No. 5, junior Ellis Klanduch lost just five games, winning 6-4, 6-1 to tie the overall score at three apiece heading into the final singles match on court No. 6.
“I’m always going to do my best to get the win,” Klanduch said. “Even when we have a slight chance to win, it’s a non-negotiable to stay competitive.”
Lopez faced off against Davenport’s Jaden Bender to break the tie, but he lost 6-4, 6-1.
The Chargers return home Feb. 28 to face No. 23 Wayne State University at 1 p.m. in the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center.
“I’m hoping our team brings the intensity against Wayne State,” Cretu said. “If we play smart, we always have a chance to win.”
