PC Drops Two Matches On Season-Opening Day

DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Presbyterian College men's tennis team, which is in its first season of being eligible for the Big South Conference Tournament, dropped two hard-fought matches Saturday afternoon at Davidson.

"We competed hard today and made some good progress," director of tennis operations Patric Hynes said. "Five freshmen played their first college match today. They will continue to get better with more experience. There was already a noticeable improvement in our performance in the second match of the day (Richmond). This match was a really hard fought battle."

The Blue Hose (0-2) fell 4-0 to Davidson and 4-2 to Richmond in a neutral site affair.

In the morning match against the host Wildcats, the Blue Hose lost the doubles point after second-seeded Andrew Brigham and Zachary Sprouse fell 8-3 while Edward Snead and Ryan Walters dropped an 8-2 contest. The No. 1 tandem of Matthew Martin and Ivan Ho did not complete the match, but it was 5-4 when play was halted in favor of Davidson.

In singles play, Martin lost a heartbreaker at No. 1 by a 7-5, 6-4 score. Ho, playing as the No. 3 performer, dropped a 6-1, 6-2 contest. Sprouse, coming off a phenomenal freshman campaign, won his opening set 6-3 as the No. 4 seed. However, he was unable to finish off his opposition, losing 6-2, 6-1 in the match.

With the score at 4-0 in favor of Davidson, the match ended early. However, Snead was ahead 3-2 in his match while No. 2 seed Brigham was down 6-4, 5-3.

In the afternoon match against the Spiders, Hynes' squad almost won the doubles point from Richmond.

At the top spot, Martin and Ho lost a tough match 8-5. The No. 2 squad of Brigham and Sprouse were able to win an 8-4 match. PC nearly pulled off the double point, but Snead and Walters fell in extra points, 9-7.

Brigham won his first collegiate match at the No. 2 spot in singles play. He won 6-3, 6-2. Sprouse played another three-set match as the No. 4 player. This time, however, he was able to come back from a 6-3 loss in the first set to win 7-6, 6-3. That win solidified PC's second point of the match.

Martin fell 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot while Ho dropped a 6-2, 6-3 match at No. 3. James Zaher lost 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 position while Snead did not finish his match at No. 6 as PC had already lost before he was able to complete the match.

"I was really pleased with Andrew getting his first college win and Zach did a great job to battle back from a set down," Hynes said. "We will need to reproduce the same effort and intensity against UNC tomorrow."

The Blue Hose return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m., when the squad plays at North Carolina.

Davidson def PC 4-0
Doubles:
1. Noble/Schafer (DAV) vs. Martin/Ho (PC) unfinished 5-4 DAV
2. Lyons/Gee (DAV) def Brigham/Sprouse (PC) 8-3
3. Burns/Mark (DAV) def Snead/Walters (PC) 8-2

Singles:
1. Noble (DAV) def Martin (PC) 6-4, 7-5
2. Schafer (D) vs. Brigham (PC) unfinished 6-4, 5-3 DAV
3. Mark (D) def Ho (PC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Gee (D) def Sprouse (PC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Moore (D) vs. Snead (PC) unfinished 3-2 PC
6. Walters (PC) vs. Alani (D) did not play

Richmond def PC 4-2

Doubles:
1. Nelson/Feder (RU) def Martin/Ho (PC) 8-5
2. Brigham/Sprouse (PC) def Schrode/Fauchet (RU) 8-4
3. Minter/Arana (RU) def Snead/Walters (PC) 9-7

Singles:
1. Fauchet (RU) def Martin (PC) 6-4, 6-3
2. Brigham (PC) def Minter (RU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Feder (RU) def Ho (PC) 6-2 6-3
4. Sprouse (PC) def Nelson (RU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
5. Schrode (RU) def Zaher (PC) 6-2 6-1
6. Baker (RU) lead Snead (PC) 6-4 unfinished