ABILENE, Tex. - Great tennis was played on both sides of the net as the #17 West Ranked Austin College Kangaroos found themselves in an early season test against the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys.
AC kicked the contest off with a vengeance as Andres Padilla and Travis Fortune took Line 3 Doubles 8-1 to take the first lead. Calum Robe and Erik Meendsen managed to pull out a tough 8-6 victory at Line 2, while Kenneth Hardy and Josh Granberry had chances to win Line 1, but fell 8-6 to close out doubles play 2-1 in favor of the Kangaroos.
The Cowboys jumped out to a commanding 4-2 lead in winning the first 3 matches of singles play. Meendsen fell in a close 6-4, 7-6(5) decision at Line 4, but Granberry won a third set at Line 2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to draw the Kangaroos within 1.
Padilla fought off a tough Line 5 opponent in two close sets 7-5, 7-5, and Rahman took the first set at Line 6 to give the 'Roos a glimmer of hope in a come-from-behind effort. But when the dust settled, HSU claimed Line 6 in three sets and downed the 'Roos 5-4 despite a valiant effort from the Sherman squad.
Austin College's next opponent will be McMurry University on Sunday, February 11th, 2018 at 11AM.