'Roos Split Singles; Fall 6-3 to DBU
First 'W' eludes AC, but not by much
SHERMAN, TX – While the Dallas Baptist University Patriots left Sherman with a 6-3 win over the 'Roos, Austin College Men's Tennis played their best match of the year.
Head Coach Ryan Dodd put it simply, "They competed. They played the tennis we have been working towards this whole year and played their best tennis of the season. They competed."
Once again a doubles point eludes the 'Roos despite a competitive match on Line 2, but singles play is where the team really shined.
Jeff Kubena got his first straight-set win of the season at Line 6 singles 6-2, 6-2. Kubena has been an up-and-down player for the 'Roos this season, but his determination to grind from the baseline and use his footwork to extend points really showed today.
Three Kangaroos forced their matches to a third set against a strong Division II team. Daniel Oxenreiter player his first match-deciding super tiebreaker of his young career. The first-year 'Roo never fell behind in the pivotal moment and battled to a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (8) victory.
David Smith was the next to find his way to a third set, but was unable to turn the momentum of winning the second set, falling 10-2 in the super-'breaker.
Finally it was Freshman Erik Meendsen to split sets at second singles. Meendsen has played Line 2 for the 'Roos most of the year and has played several third-set matches, but went winless in every contest. Until tonight.
The young Kangaroo Men's Tennis player would not be denied. He fought back from a 5-3 mini-break deficit, and ground his opponent down to dust from the baseline, while executing on transition opportunities with confidence.
"I'm so proud of him," said Coach Dodd. "He never gave up. Not this match, not this season, not ever. I kept telling him it would come; that he would get his first win eventually. But he believed it, and it could not have come against a better tennis player from DBU. Erik played like a veteran tonight.
Austin College looks for their first doubles point and their first team victory against Southwestern Christian University at home tomorrow. First serve starts at 3:00pm
Austin College 3, Dallas Baptist University 6
April 10, 2015
Sherman, TX
Elizabeth Russell Tennis Center
Singles
1. Cannon Jones (DBU) def. Cedric Ambulo (AC) 6-1, 6-0
2. Erik Meendsen (AC) def. Leighton Forshee (DBU) 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
3. Zane Nelson (DBU) def. Jacob Morgan (AC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Daniel Oxenreiter (AC) def. Isaac Childs (DBU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (8)
5. Anthony Burch (DBU) def. David Smith (AC) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (2)
6. Jeff Kubena (AC) def. Jordan Jackson (DBU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. Jones/Nelson (DBU) def. Ambulo/Meendsen (AC) 8-1
2. Forshee/Forshee (DBU) def. Oxenreiter/Smith (AC) 8-5
3. Johnson/Childs (DBU) def. Kubena/Morgan (AC) 8-3
Match Notes
Austin College: 0-9 (0-3)
Dallas Baptist University: 6-7
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1) Singles (3, 1, 6, 4, 5, 2)