KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In their final tune-up before SAC play gets underway next weekend, Carson-Newman men's tennis (5-2, 0-0 SAC) was back in Knoxville Saturday to face off with their final nonconference opponents of the early spring season.
The Eagles faced off with the Belmont Abbey Crusaders (5-12, 0-0 CC) and the Lee Flames (5-1, 0-0 GSC) Saturday from the Knoxville Racquet Club. It would be C-N taking home a nearly-perfect 5-2 win over the Crusaders before falling to Lee in the nightcap, 4-3.
Game One: CARSON-NEWMAN 5, Belmont Abbey 2
Carson-Newman and Belmont Abbey last squared off in a similar format as part of a three-team match day last February. In the previous meeting, it was the Eagles getting their first win of the spring 2021 season as they defeated BAC 6-1.
Saturday started off with the Eagles winning all three doubles matches in order as they would take an early 1-0 advantage and never looked back.
In number one doubles, the pairing of Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) and Lars Hordijk (Dordrecht, South Holland) remained above .500 for their spring season as they now sit at 4-2. Saturday the Eagles duo faced Xaveam Van Wijk and Nicholas Cary of Belmont Abbey, as C-N got on the board first with a 6-4 win.
Then, in number two doubles, Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Gjorgji Jankulovski (Macedonia) clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win over Zachary Blythe and Nelson Stafford of Belmont Abbey. So far in 2022, the duo of Waterbolk/Jankulovski have amassed a 5-1 record, with their lone loss coming against DIII powerhouse Sewanee on Feb. 15.
Finally, in number three doubles, Marnix Van Dalen (Netherlands) and Rintaro Oka wrapped up the doubles sweep with a highly entertaining 7-6 result as C-N would hold the 1-0 advantage going into singles. The duo of Van Dalen/Oka is 3-3 this spring.
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim four of the six matches, as they suffered setbacks in number three and six singles.
The Crusaders would tie the score at one apiece after Andres Golindano defeated Joshua Ott (Knoxville, Tenn.) 6-4, 6-1 in number six singles. This was Ott's first official action of the spring.
From there, Lars Hordijk regained C-N the lead as he took the 2-6, 6-1, 10-6 result at number four singles. The sophomore is now 5-1 in his first official season with the team, as he has only suffered a loss in C-N win over DIII Sewanee.
In number two singles, one of C-N's unspoken leaders, Marc Janse stepped up once more as he took a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 win over BAC's Nelson Stafford to build the C-N lead to 3-1. After a phenomenal fall season and shaky start to the spring, Janse has been one of the hottest Eagles athletes as he has now won four straight matches after suffering his lone spring loss to nationally ranked Ryan Gaskin of North Georgia.
One of the most feel-good stories of C-N's spring has been the work efforts of freshman Marnix Van Dalen as he has started to find a groove from number one singles. Saturday was yet another sensational effort from the freshman as he would take a 6-4, 6-2 win. This is Van Dalen's third straight singles win, including the match-clincher for C-N over DIII powerhouse Sewanee last week.
The final Eagle athlete to gain a victory on Saturday was Ids Waterbolk, who pushed C-N ahead for good and gave them their fifth point on the scoreboard from number five singles. The Netherlands native has yet to lose in singles, going a perfect 5-0 from number six singles and now 1-0 from number five singles.
Saturday was all about Waterbolk as he took home a 6-2, 6-2 win over Belmont Abbey's Nicholas Cary.
Unfortunately, it would be Belmont Abbey taking the final point on Saturday as they made it 5-2 after Xaveam Van Wijk won from number three singles. Van Wijk went head-to-head against C-N's Gjorgji Jankulovski as the Crusader athlete won 6-7, 6-4, 10-8.
Game Two: LEE 4, Carson-Newman 3
Unlike against the Crusaders, C-N was unable to muster enough victories to gather the doubles point from Lee as the Flames gained the early advantage and capitalized when it mattered to end C-N's four match win streak.
The only doubles pairing to win against the Flames were Gjorgji Jankulovski and Ids Waterbolk at number two doubles as the pairing took a 6-4 result over Dasi and Garcia Gil of Lee.
However, Lee would see Medeiro and Ramirez Ribea take the number one doubles match by a final of 6-2 while their counterparts, Johnston and Van der Merwe captured number three doubles 7-6.
However, the Eagles did not give up as a trio of singles win kept it close but were not enough to continue the hot start of 2022 for C-N.
Freshman Marnix Van Dalen gathered his fourth straight singles win after meeting the two-set minimum against Ramirez Ribey of Lee, 6-2, 6-2 at number one singles.
Following suit was Marc Janse, who built his personal singles win streak to five straight with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in number two singles action.
The final Eagle to win on Saturday night was Lars Hordijk in number five singles. Going up against Lee's Johnston, Hordijk captured the first set 7(4)-6 before coming back and winning the match with a 6-3 decision in set two.
One of the big storylines from the nightcap came at number six singles where Ids Waterbolk was handed his first singles loss of the spring in a three-set thriller. After winning his first six singles matches to start 2022, Waterbolk saw a 6-7(9), 6-3, 5-10 result go against him and Lee would take the victory and hand C-N their second loss of the spring.
The Eagles now turn their attention to the start of SAC play next weekend as the Coker Cobras and Limestone Saints come to Mossy Creek for matches on Friday and Saturday. First serve is set for 2:00 p.m. Friday while Saturday gets started at 1:30 p.m. from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex in Jefferson City.
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