The men's tennis team split a double-header in Ohio on Saturday. The team opened the day with a tight 5-4 to loss to Grand Rapids Community College before bouncing back with an 8-1 win over host Defiance.
The Scots opened play indoors against GRCC with doubles action. The pairing of Sr. Ben Schippers (Traverse City, MI/Traverse City St. Francis) and So. Josh Gove (St. Johns, MI/St. Johns) built an early lead at #2 doubles and held on for a 9-7 win.
Trailing 2-1, the Scots looked to bounce back in singles action outdoors. Unfortunately though the Scots were only able to claim three singles wins. Fr. Justin Meyer (Warren Woods, MI/Warren Woods Tower) picked up a quick win at #6 singles to pull the Scots even before GRCC earned wins at #3 and #4 to pull ahead 4-2.
So. Gordon Rumschlag (Romeo, MI/Romeo) was able to come from behind, saving four match points, to win 4-6, 7-6(10), 10-6 at #5 singles to pull the Scots within a point. Needing two more points to win the match, the Scots looked for wins from their top two players. Despite a solid effort from both players, the Scots were only able to pick up one win; So. Logan Beard (Ithaca, MI/Ithaca, MI) held on for a 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 win at #2 singles.
"We didn't come out and play with the confidence we needed to in the first match," said Head Coach Chris Sandro. "I was much happier with our effort against Defiance, and we will need to carry that confidence into next weekend against Trine."
In the second match of the day the Scots jumped all over the host Defiance in doubles and never looked back. Schippers and Gove picked up their second doubles victory of the day at #2 with an 8-4 win. At #1 doubles Beard and Fr. Trent Pontious (Caledonia, MI/Caledonia) claimed an 8-3 win. The #3 doubles pairing of Rumschlag and Meyer also picked up an 8-3 win.
With a commanding 3-0 lead the Scots quickly closed out an 8-1 win. The most commanding victory came at #2 singles where Beard won 6-0, 6-0. Also picking up straight set wins for the Scots were Pontious, Meyer and Fr. Phil Ryskamp (Grosse Ille, MI/Grosse Ille). Pontious picked up a 6-1, 6-1 at #2 singles, Meyer claimed a 6-1, 6-0 at #5 and Ryskamp gained momentum as the match progressed in route to a 6-3, 6-0 win at #6. Gove bounced back from a 4-6 first set loss to claim at 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 win at #1.
The Scots will kick off MIAA play next Saturday at home with a crucial dual against Trine. The match is set to get underway at 1:00 p.m. at the Superior Street Tennis Complex.
GRCC Match Scores:
Singles #1: Casey Feenstra (GRCC) def. Josh Gove (Alma) 6-4, 6-3 #2: Logan Beard (Alma) def. Ben Esh-Nauta (GRCC) 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 #3: Keith Lannon (GRCC) def. Trent Pontious (Alma) 6-3, 6-3 #4: Clayton Hodge (GRCC) def. Ben Schippers (Alma) 6-3, 6-1 #5: Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) def. Andrew Amante (GRCC) 4-6, 7-6(10), 10-6 #6: Justin Meyer (Alma) def. Matt Jackson (GRCC) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles #1: Feenstra/Lannon (GRCC) def. Beard/Pontious (Alma) 8-3 #2: Gove/Schippers (Alma) def. Esh-Nauta/Buck (GRCC) 9-7 #3: Hodge/Amante (GRCC) def. Rumschlag/Meyer (Alma) 8-1
Box Score
Defiance Match Scores:
Singles #1: Josh Gove (Alma) def. Trevor Ault (Defiance) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 #2: Logan Beard (Alma) def. Austin Gray (Defiance) 6-0, 6-0 #3: Trent Pontious (Alma) def. Speelman (Defiance) 6-1, 6-1 #4: Ryan Nelson (Defiance) def. Gordon Rumschlag (Alma) 6-4, 6-4 #5: Justin Meyer (Alma) def. Craig Bills (Defiance) 6-1, 6-0 #6: Phil Ryskamp (Alma) def. Justin Walker (Defiance) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles #1: Beard/Pontious (Alma) def. Nelson/Ault (Defiance) 8-3 #2: Gove/Schippers (Alma) def. Bills/Speelman (Defiance) 8-4 #3: Rumschlag/Meyer (Alma) def. Gray/Walker (Defiance) 8-3
Box Score
