SPARTANBURG, S.C.-The PC men's tennis team battled
through a tough match against USC Upstate but fell just short, losing 4-3 on
the road to the Spartans. The Blue Hose move to 4-3 on the year with the
loss.
Nathan Crocker (Clinton, S.C.) and Kenneth Mooney (Martinez,
Ga.) won 8-5 at the number three doubles spot, but USC Upstate secured the
doubles point with wins at the one and two spots. Andrew Brigham (Sutton, Birmingham) and
Rafael Berghaus (Offenbach, Germany) dropped a close 8-6 decision at number one
and the Spartans ultimately came away with the point.
In singles play, Berghaus earned a 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 win at
the number three spot and Gonzalo Asis (Madrid, Spain) and Zachary Sprouse (Hilton
Head, S.C.) each also recorded wins, but they weren't enough as the doubles
point proved to be the deciding factor in the match. Despite PC winning at the three, five and six
spots, the Spartans also earned three singles points and used the crucial
doubles point to edge the Blue Hose and take the 4-3 match victory.
"We played some good singles matches today, but
unfortunately losing the doubles point is what ultimately hurt us," said head
coach Patric Hynes. "One up side is that
we have another match tomorrow and can really turn our focus to Wofford and
work on getting another win."
PC returns home for a 2:30 p.m. contest against another
in-state rival tomorrow, Feb. 17, when they host Wofford.
Singles competition
1.
Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) def. BRIGHAM, Andrew (PC-M) 6-1, 6-3
2.
Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. MILLS, Grayson (PC-M) 6-4, 6-0
3.
BERGHAUS, Rafael (PC-M) def. Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) 2-6, 6-3, 10-5
4.
Marco Linconir (UPSTM) def. MOONEY, Kenneth (PC-M) 6-0, 6-1
5.
ASIS, Gonzalo (PC-M) def. Gianluca Paino (UPSTM) 7-5, 7-6
6.
SPROUSE, Zachary (PC-M) def. Andres Sanchez (UPSTM) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
competition
1.
Ramiro Blanco/Matias Di Pasquale (UPSTM) def. BRIGHAM, Andrew/BERGHAUS, Rafael
(PC-M) 8-6
2.
Gonzalo Blanco/Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) def. MILLS, Grayson/ASIS, Gonzalo (PC-M)
8-3
3.
CROCKER, Nathan/MOONEY, Kenneth (PC-M) def. Marco Linconir/Ignacio Velez
(UPSTM) 8-5
