CANTON, Ga. – The Carson-Newman men's tennis team had good looks in today's Reinhart University Invitational Tournament.
"Our main objective," Carson-Newman head tennis coach Jean Love said, "was to get some experience against outside competition, and we did that."
In group A singles main draw round one, Joao Pedro Oliveira (Brazil) dominated Middle Georgia's Peters 6-2, 6-2 while Stefano Daza (Venezuela) took down MG's Wharton 6-4, 6-3.
Oliveira was defeated in the second round in a third set tiebreaker by Lee University's Salom 6-7(4), 6-1, 10-4.
Juan Perez (Ecuador) fell in three sets to Reinhart's Hrynor in the group A consolation match 6-4, 0-6, 10-6.
In B singles main draw, C-N's Jordan Knott took RU's Deloach to three sets before dropping the match 2-1, 6-1, 10-5. Eagle Kevin Mendes toppled MG's Ross 6-2, 6-1 in round one.
Mendes went on to beat RU's Porter 6-2, 6-4 in round two while his teammate Garret Duron (Woodstock, Ga.) eliminated MG's Vergottini in three 6-2, 4-6, 11-9.
Mendes tired Duron in the semifinal match for a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory, but bowed out in the finals leaving a 6-2, 6-2 contest to MG's Driessen.
Knott defeated RU's Zimin in the group B consolation math 6-4, 6-2, but his final match to be held against Porter was canceled.
Senior Austin Mackay (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) ran away with the group C singles main draw title after defeating teammate Taylor Barie 6-2, 2-6, 10-6 in the semifinal match.
C-N's Jonathan Booker fell in three sets to MG's Gallauer 2-6, 6-4, 10-8. Mackay burned Gallauer 6-1, 6-0 in the group C finals.
In doubles play, the C-N team of Mackay and Knott brought home the group B doubles main draw title. The duo knocked out MG's Peters/Driessen 8-5 in round one, RU's Duarte/Deloach 8-3 in the semifinals, and won by default in the finals against MG's Ross/Vergottini.
The Eagles roped in the C main draw victory thanks to Duron and Barie. The pair trounced RU's Sepulveda/Rogers 8-1 before taking the final match again from Reinhart 8-6.
"We had a good weekend of competition," Coach Love said, "with all players seeing some action."
The men kick off their season Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. home against Young Harris.
