TYLER, TX - The Austin College Men's Tennis Team had a promising weekend at the ITA Southwest Regional Tournament hosted by the University of Texas at Tyler.
Cedric Ambulo and Erik Meendsen were both entered the Main A-Draw Singles and teamed up for their A-Draw Doubles match later on that evening. Meendsen and Ambulo both saw early exits in the first round of singles, with Meendsen drawing tough competition in the consolation rounds and falling 6-1, 6-2 to host UT-Tyler's Jean Oyardo 6-1, 6-2. Ambulo used his much improved footwork and balance in an aggressive, attacking serve-and-volley gameplan to defeat host UT-Tyler's Drew Reid 6-4, 6-4 before falling to Hardin-Simmons' Nathan Chavez in the Cons. Round of 16.
In doubles play, Ambulo and Meendsen took on Ozarks' 7th-seeded tandem Bass/Turner in the first round. The 'Roos played a masterful, aggressive doubles match against the experienced Eagles, but 1-break of serve decided the match, and AC fell 8-5 in the end.
Two 'Roos were given the opportunity to play their way out of qualification and into the A-Draw singles, but for Preston Glasscock and Jeff Kubena, Trinity's Manny Brown and Alvaro Hobbs were to consistent in their attacks, relegating the 'Roos to the B-Draw.
Kubena then teamed up later in the evening with Morgan for A-Draw qualifying doubles, but the duo found another experienced Trinity opponent on the other side of the net. Morgan and Kubena fought valiantly, but fell in the end 8-1.
The B-Draw singles and doubles is where the majority of the 'Roo Netters found their stride. Glasscock and Kubena bounced back immediately from their losses the night before to take wins in their first round matches, with Glasscock closing out his singles day with a "gutsy" performance over Turner (OZ) in a super-tiebreaker for the third set to advance into Day 2.
Meanwhile, the four AC Men's Tennis Players that struggled in their first round all advanced into Day 2 by way of the consolation bracket. Nick Ashburn and Zach Bomar won three matches in all to advance to Day Three, both claiming super-tiebreaker victories along the way, before semi-final play was cancelled due to academic conflicts.
The 'Roos will continue official practice until Oct. 9 where off-season workouts begin. AC is back on the courts for their first Spring tennis match vs. McMurry on Valentine's Day, February 14.
Cedric Ambulo
A Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. (3)Aaron Skinner (TU) 6-1, 6-1
Consolation Round of 32 – Win vs. Drew Reid (UTT) 6-4, 6-4
Cons. Round of 16 – Loss vs. Nathan Chavez (HSU) 6-0, 6-1
A Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Erik Meendsen vs. (7) Bass/Turner (OZ) 8-5
Erik Meendsen
A Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. Josh Ramirez (SCH) 6-4, 6-4
Cons. Round of 32 – Loss vs. Jean Oyardo (UTT) 6-1, 6-2
A Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Cedric Ambulo vs. (7) Bass/Turner (OZ) 8-5
Preston Glasscock
A Draw Qualifying Singles
Round 1 – Loss vs. Manny Brown (TU) 6-3, 6-2
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Win vs. Bright Ihezue (UMHB) 6-1, 6-1
Round of 32 – Win vs. Spencer Turner (OZ) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
Round of 16 – Loss vs. Ben Gutierrez (HSU) 6-3, 6-2
B Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Win w/Zach Bomar vs. Milner/Ballard (HSU) 8-5
Round of 16 – Loss w/Zach Bomar vs. Copple/Hodous (UTT) 8-5
Jeff Kubena
A Draw Qualifying Singles
Round 1 – Loss vs. Alvaro Hobbs (TU) 6-1, 6-0
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Win vs. Michael Holder (SCH) 6-3, 6-3
Round of 32 – Loss vs. Ian McVinney (HC) 7-6(7-5), 3-6, 1-0(2)
A Draw Qualifying Doubles
Round 1 – Loss w/Jacob Morgan v. Dunn/Diaz Boom (TU) 8-1
B Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Jacob Morgan v. Martin/Kittrell (UMHB) 8-1
Nick Ashburn
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. Kei Jones (McM) 6-1, 6-2
Cons. Round of 32 – Win vs. TJ Kittrell (UMHB) 6-2, 6-4
Cons. Round of 16 – Win vs. John Smith (LeT) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(9)
Cons. Quarterfinals – Win vs. Andrew Eurek (HSU) W/O
Cons. Quarterfinals – Unplayed vs. Zach Bomar (AC)
B Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Ben Boerner v. Huss/Castan (ETBU) 8-5
Ben Boerner
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. Scott Martin (ETBU) 6-0, 6-1
Cons. Round of 32 – Win vs. Brandon Adkins (UMHB) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0(10)
Cons. Round of 16 – Loss vs. Thomas Lozano (SCH) 7-5, 6-4
B Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Ben Boerner v. Huss/Castan (ETBU) 8-5
Jacob Morgan
A Draw Qualifying Doubles
Round 1 – Loss w/Jeff Kubena v. Dunn/Diaz Boom (TU) 8-1
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. Colby Milner (HSU) 6-1, 6-3
Cons. Round of 32 – Win vs. Taylor Graces (SCH) W/D
Cons. Round of 16 – Loss vs. Ricardo Longoria (ETBU) 6-2, 6-1
B Draw Doubles
Round of 32 – Loss w/Jeff Kubena v. Martin/Kittrell (UMHB) 8-1
Zach Bomar
B Draw Singles
Round of 64 – Loss vs. Rod Khansari (SW) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(15)
Cons. Round of 32 – Win vs. Cameron Vose (HSU) 6-3, 6-0
Cons. Round of 16 – Win vs. Bob Berardi (HC) 6-3, ret.
Cons. Quarterfinals – Win vs. Dillon Murray (OZ) 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (8)
Cons. Semifinals – Unplayed vs. Nick Ashburn (AC)