JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Another early disadvantage proved to be too much for Carson-Newman to overcome as the Eagles fell to No. 24 Wingate in a 9-0 sweep on Saturday at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
The Eagles (2-7, 0-3 SAC) now hold a three-match losing skid through just as many South Atlantic Conference matches. The loss also moves Wingate (10-3, 3-0 SAC) to 9-0 against C-N since the turn of the decade.
The blanking also marks the sixth this decade against the Bulldogs.
Marc Bantel (Germany) and Taylor Barie (Woodstock, Ga.) were unsuccessful at the No. 3 spot as the duo fell to Matthew Jones and Enrico Giacomini by a score of 8-3 to start the day.
The Eagles' top-seeded duo of Rodolfo Schwarz (Brazil) and Kevin Mendes (Chattanooga, Tenn.) faced a tall task as the two took on the No. 11 doubles pairing in the nation in Daniel Belsito and Josh DuToit. While the match stayed relatively close, the Wingate tandem took the victory in an 8-6 advantage.
Gabriel Dabdab (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Jesus Bacete-Sanz (Madrid, Spain) closed doubles play at the second spot, falling 8-6 to Duncan Addison and Josep Canyadell to give the Bulldogs an early 3-0 lead.
Singles play opened as Barie fell in straight sets to Giacomini at the No. 4 spot, 6-4 and 6-3 before Dabdab was defeated by Belsito, ranked 31st in the nation for singles players, at the top-seed by scores of 6-2 and 6-3.
The win at the No. 1 spot provided the Bulldogs with the dagger at a 5-0 lead.
Schwarz was also defeated in straight sets at the third-seed as Jones took 6-4 and 6-3 sets.
Bacete-Sanz went down at the No. 5 spot to Geva in an 8-4 disadvantage before Joseph Stiles (New Oxford, Pa.) loss to Addison at the sixth position, 8-6.
The Eagles return to action on Wednesday as they play host to Shawnee State on Wednesday at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex. First serve for the match is set for 1:30 p.m.
