ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Presbyterian College men's tennis team rolled to a Big South Conference win on the road, taking down the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Thursday in a 7-0 shutout.
PC improves to 22-5 and 5-1 in the Big South. The team's 22 victories mark a new program Division I record. The Blue Hose next head to Coastal Carolina for a Saturday match at 1 p.m. in Conway. Asheville falls to 7-10 and 1-3.
The Blue Hose captured eight of the nine matches en route to the win. Four of the singles victories came in straight sets.
The day began with a doubles point by way of No. 3 and No. 2 doubles. Ben Kelley (Weaverville, N.C.) and Ryan Miller (Norcross, Ga.) cruised past Daniel Kripak and Josh Swindler at the third flight, 8-3. At the second flight, Diego Manzanas (Madrid, Spain) and Grayson Mills (Lilburn, Ga.) squeezed past John Schubel and Thomas Panoulas at No. 2, 9-8. Asheville's win came at the top flight with Brett Landau and Alex Croker edged Rafael Berghaus (Offenbach, Germany) and Joel Roberts (Summerville, N.C.), 8-6.
Mills started singles action with a clinical 6-1, 6-0 decision over Kripak at the top flight while Gonzalo Asis (Madrid, Spain) cruised past Josh Swindler at No. 6, 6-2, 6-0.
Kelley downed Landau in straight sets at the fourth flight, 6-4, 6-2, while Roberts dispatched Panoulas at the second flight, 6-2, 6-3.
The Blue Hose grabbed two tiebreakers at the No. 3 and No. 5 flights. Danny Bruce (Marietta, Ga.) knocked off Alex Croker, 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (6) at the third flight and Manzanas took down John Schubel at the fifth flight, 6-7, 6-1, 1-0 (6).
DOUBLES
1. Brett Landau-Alex Croker (ASHM) def. Rafael Berghaus-Joel Roberts (PC) 8-6
2. Diego Manzanas-Grayson Mills (PC) def. John Schubel-Thomas Panoulas (ASHM) 9-8
3. Ben Kelley-Ryan Miller (PC) def. Daniel Kripak-Josh Swindler (ASH) 8-3
SINGLES
1. Grayson Mills (PC) def. Daniel Kripak (ASHM) 6-1, 6-0
2. Joel Roberts (PC) def. Thomas Panoulas (ASHM) 6-2, 6-3
3. Danny Bruce (PC) def. Alex Croker (ASHM) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (6)
4. Ben Kelley (PC) def. Brett Landau (ASHM) 6-4, 6-2
5. Diego Manzanas (PC) def. John Schubel (ASHM) 6-7, 6-1, 1-0 (6)
6. Gonzalo Asis (PC) def. Josh Swindler (ASHM) 6-2, 6-0
