Men's Tennis defeats Crusaders 7-2
Electric environment at Russell Tennis Center nets AC 3 "Super Tiebreakers," providing the difference in the match
SHERMAN, Tex. - In what was an exciting, electrifying, loud, and supportive environment, the Austin College Men's Tennis Team defeated the Crusaders of Mary Hardin-Baylor 7-2 at the Elizabeth Russell Tennis Center.
Doubles was entertaining to say the least, as every court went "back-and-forth" between Kangaroos and Crusaders. AC struck first with Preston Glasscock and Pieter Jon Cabato at Line 2, winning 8-6.
UMHB levelled the match at Line 3, but Austin College won a tiebreaker at Line 1 with Kenneth Hardy and Siddharth Kortikere 9-8 (7-5) to take the lead moving into singles competition.
The Cru took the first set at Lines 1 and 3, and Wilding tied the match back up with a 1 & 0 victory over Josh Granberry at Line 1.
UMHB would split sets with Hardy at Line 2 while Meendsen would take the 2nd at Line 3. Both Kangaroos Men's Tennis players would play tough tiebreaks and collect victories to put the Men up 4-2.
Kortikere cruised to a clinching victory at Line 4 to put the match out of reach, and Cabato would extend the lead to 6-2 with a dominating performance at Line 6, 6-2, 6-0. Last match on belonged to Glasscock, and he would not disappoint.
Glasscock fell behind 6-1 in the first set, but grinded his way to a 3rd set after taking the 2nd 6-4. He took a commanding lead in the tiebreaker, and closed it out with a strong approach to the forehand side, winning 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8).
The 7-2 victory today bests last season's 6-3 defeat of UMHB, and makes it 2 in a row over the Crusaders since the 9-0 and 8-1 defeats in 2015.
Austin College returns to the courts this evening at 4:00PM against the University of Texas at Tyler.