BELTON, Texas – The Austin College men's tennis team came away with a tremendous 6-3 victory over the Crusaders of Mary Hardin-Baylor and improved their record in the process to 5-4.

All the work the 'Roos have put into their doubles paid off today with Austin College sweeping the Cru 3-0 going into singles competition.  The Kangaroos were unable to get a victory on the doubles court against UMHB in two matches last season.

The tandem of Meendsen & Glasscock posted an impressive 8-1 victory over Wilding/Mackellar at Line 2, but not before Oxenreiter & Kubena could strike first for the 'Roos, taking Line 3 in decisive fashion as well, 8-2.

Last off of the court was the juggernaut combo of Ambulo & Granberry, who gained an early break against Thompson/Dunmore and never looked back, getting a huge hold to close out the sweep from the freshman Granberry.

The tension on the court was palpable going into singles play, as Wilding put UMHB on the board early with a straight-set win over Cedric Ambulo.  But Preston Glasscock was not far behind with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at Line 4 to move the 'Roos one match closer to clinching their first win over the Cru in three attempts.

Erik Meendsen fought an epic 30-point tiebreaker against Thompson from UMHB, ending in a 16-14 decision in favor of the Crusaders' singles player.  As he began his second set, Josh Granberry would drop his second set to Dunmore, holding the match in a very delicate state.

Meendsen would fall 6-4 in a closely contested second set, but Granberry would clinch the match for the 'Roos with a dominant 6-1 third set.

Both Will Crouch and Jeff Kubena would also play third set matches against their Crusader opponents, but only Kubena would prevail in his, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 over Boles.

With the victory today, Austin College ties their win total from last season at the mid-season mark, and host SCAC Opponent Centenary College at home on April 2 at 1:00 PM to try to surpass their high-water mark from 2015's campaign.

Austin College 6, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 3

Belton, TX

Yvonne Li Tennis Center

3/19/2016

Singles

Scott Wilding (UMHB) def. Cedric Ambulo (AC) 6-1, 6-2

Brendan Thompson (UMHB) def. Erik Meendsen (AC) 7-6 (16-14), 6-4

Josh Granberry (AC) def. Julian Dunmore (UMHB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

Preston Glasscock (AC) def. Alex Mackellar (UMHB) 6-1, 7-5

Bright Ihezue (UMHB) def. Will Crouch (AC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Jeff Kubena (AC) def. Jake Boles (UMHB) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

Doubles

Ambulo/Granberry (AC) def. Thompson/Dunmore (UMHB) 8-6

Glasscock/Meendsen (AC) def. Mackellar/Wilding (UMHB) 8-1

Oxenreiter/Kubena (AC) def. Ihezue/Boles (UMHB) 8-2

Match Notes

Austin College: 5-4 (0-1)

UMHB: 2-3;

Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1) Singles (1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6)