CLINTON, S.C. ?
Mark Cannatelli's singles victory at No. 6 clinched the victory for the
Presbyterian College men's tennis team, marking the squad's first-ever Big
South Conference win.
The Blue Hose improve to 4-9 on the season and 1-2 in the Big South Conference.
“It feels
good to go out there and get a win today,” head coach Patric Hynes said. “We
played well in the doubles matches today, which was where the match was won
since we split the singles matches.”
Cannatelli
pulled off a straight-set victory over Alex Appelt at the No. 6 spot by scores
of 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) to secure the win. At that point in the contest, Cannatelli's
win gave PC with four points to the Bulldogs' two with just the fifth-seeded
match still playing.
In doubles play the Blue Hose secured the point as Matthew Martin and Zachary
Sprouse teamed up to knock off Mauricio Correa and Jonas Brobeck by an 8-4
score. Then the No. 3 tandem of Andrew lee and Brad Luciuk quickly took care of
business, downing Alex Appelt and Nathan White 8-4.
With the
point in hand, the doubles team of Michael Nicol and Patrick Fediuk carried the
momentum the team had already gained to earn a hard-fought 9-8 win over Nicola
Nonnenbroich and Joe May.
PC jumped
out to a 2-0 lead as Nicol won a straight set match over Nonnenbroich by scores
of 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 2 spot.
Fediuk's win at No. 3 gave the Blue Hose a near insurmountable 3-0 advantage.
He downed Brobeck by a 7-6, 6-0 score.
Top seeded
Martin had the chance to clinch the match as he squared off with Correa.
However, Martin was defeated 6-2, 7-5. The Bulldogs started to mount a comeback
after Sprouse was beaten 7-5, 6-1 by White at the No. 4 spot.
With only
two matches still in play, Cannatelli won the two-set match over Appelt. In the
match, Cannatelli was pushed to extra points in the second set, but prevailed
by winning seven straight.
Lee was
unable to add on to the total, losing at No. 5 by a score of 1-6, 7-5, 2-6.
The Blue
Hose were picked last in the Big South preseason poll while Asheville was picked sixth.
The men's
tennis team returns to action Saturday when they play host to USC Upstate in a 3:30 contest at the Templeton Tennis
Complex.
