The Austin College men's tennis team competed over the weekend at the University of Texas-Dallas in their first competitive matches of the fall season.
A forecast of rain, wind, and chilly temperatures was the constant on the first day of competition on Friday, September 12, but the teams were able to carve a few hours out of the late afternoon/evening to get some doubles play in. Nevermind that the team had just concluded its first week of practice, the 'Roos came out strong in their three doubles flights.
"Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, said first-year head coach Ryan Dodd. "I've only had a week to get these guys prepared for this weekend, and we really had not discussed doubles partners or a singles lineup prior to going out on the courts. We were looking at these matches as a great chance for some exhibition competition before the ITA Fall Regionals in Tyler."
Claiming two matches against Sul Ross State University were Jeffrey Kubena and Henry Glasscock in Flight 2, and David Smith and Jacob Morgan in Flight 3. But rain began to mist the courts and make playing conditions unsafe for the teams as the 'Roos squared off against Mary Hardin-Baylor in doubles. Play would be suspended until the morning.
As play resumed on Saturday, two matches were tied at 4-4, and the third had just started the second set. The team of Daniel Oxenreiter and Erik Meendsen closed out a tight first set with veteran form at Flight 1 doubles, only to lose in a super-tiebreaker for the decisive third set 10-7. Smith and Glasscock took their first set 7-5 after the delay and never looked back, closing out the second set 6-3.
Singles competition in all six flights began shortly after the conclusion of doubles play, and the tension between both teams was palpable. Alas, Mary Hardin-Baylor would take four of six singles points from the 'Roos, but third set super-tiebreakers would decide matches in Flights 2, 4, and 6.
The final matches of the day would be doubles competition in Flights 1 through 3 against hostUniversity of Texas-Dallas, where the Austin College would play its best tennis.
Coming out rejuvenated against the Comets, the 'Roos took two matches in Flights 2 and 3 against Texas-Dallas, with yet another super-tiebreaker to decide the match on Flight 3 for Oxenreiter and Nick Ashburn.
On his team's performance throughout the weekend, Dodd commented, "We could not have anticipated we would have this type of success this early in our time together. It just goes to show you what a group of young student-athletes can do when they buy into a system and get to work, even after only one week. I'm excited to see where we will be at the end of this fall, let alone the end of this year."
The 'Roos are back in action in two weeks at the ITA Fall Regional Tournament, hosted byUniversity of Texas-Tyler from September 26-28.
Flight 1 Doubles:
Scott Wilding/Jake Stamps (MHB) def. Erik Meendsen/Daniel Oxenreiter (AC) 6-7 (6), 6-2, 1-0 (7)
Ryan Morton/Sean Spiesman (UTD) def. Ben Boerner/Cedric Ambulo (AC) 6-3, 6-1
Flight 2 Doubles:
Tevin Dao/Brendan Thompson (MHB) def. Ben Boerner/Jeff Kubena (AC) 6-3, 6-1
Jeff Kubena/Erik Meendsen (AC) def. Kalee Kuhn, Andres Peirano (UTD) 6-1, 7-5
Flight 3 Doubles:
David Smith/Preston Glasscock (AC) def. Brandon Adkins/TJ Kittrell (MHB) 7-5, 6-3
Nick Ashburn/Daniel Oxenreiter (AC) def. Liam Spiesman/Grant Norris (UTD) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (5)
Flight 1 Singles:
Flight 2 Singles:
Flight 3 Singles:
Flight 4 Singles:
Brandon Adkins (MHB) def. David Smith (AC) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (7)
Flight 5 Singles:
Nick Ashburn (AC) def. TJ Kittrell (MHB) 6-3, 6-0
Flight 6 Singles: