Murfreesboro, NC -- The West Virginia Wesleyan Men's tennis team got two wins each from Nathan Savill and Jacobo Rendon to help secure a 6-3 win over host Chowan University Sunday afternoon.
The Bobcats, playing their first outdoor match of the spring, took comfortable wins at #1 and #3 doubles and then claimed the final four singles spots to improve to 2-1 overall. The Hawks, ranked 10th regionally, fell to 3-3 with the loss.
"The guys set out to show consistency and get their legs, and they did a nice job of settling into their matches", said coach
Marc Walters. "We have not been outside yet this year even to practice, so in playing a ranked team on the road to open up was a good test for us, especially the freshmen."
Joel Izquierdo and
Aitor Reparaz continued their solid play at #1 Doubles by running out to an 8-2 win, while Rendon and Savill closed out a 8-4 at the #3 spot. Freshmen
Jose Titonel and Tim Stephens dug a 0-5 hole before battling back to eventually tie their #2 doubles match at 7-7, before dropping a 7-9 decision.
Stephens bounced back to take a 6-2 6-0 win at #3 singles to clinch the team win, while Rendon, Savill, and Fernandes followed suit. Fernandes dropped his first set 4-6, before taking the next two 6-3 and 6-0.
The Bobcats will play DII power North Carolina Wesleyan on Monday in an exhibition, and then will travel to Raleigh to take on regional rival Shaw University at 2pm on Tuesday.
