JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – 23rd-ranked Carson-Newman men's tennis (13-6, 7-3 SAC) will look to close out the 2022 regular season on a high note as they see their final two matches take place in the matter of four days. First, it will be a nationally ranked meeting (once more) as the Eagles head to Anderson for a battle with the 27th-ranked Trojans. Then, the Orange and Blue return home for a Senior Day match against Catawba on Saturday.
Carson-Newman was last in action last week in a trio of pivotal matches as the 2022 SAC standings continue to take shape. First, last Wednesday, it would be a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to 43rd-ranked Tusculum for the Eagles before they headed to Newberry on Friday, winning 6-1 over the Wolves. However, they would not see victory again as they fell 4-3 in a highly contested matchup with the 36th-ranked Queens Royals on Saturday.
In the match against Tusculum, the sides would be even at 3-3 apiece after singles play concluded. The Eagles saw victories from Marnix Van Dalen (6-2, 2-6, 7-6), Marc Janse (7-6, 6-4), and Lars Hordijk (6-4, 5-7, 6-3) before doubles play commenced.
Once doubles play started, it was Tusculum taking the number three flight before C-N responded to take the number two position. However, the Pioneers were too much to handle as they escaped Mossy Creek with a win at number one doubles, thus pulling off the upset of the Eagles.
"Today showcases how talented this conference is and how much we cannot expect an easy win," head coach Jim Frederick said. "This is a huge result for us to learn from as we know how deep this conference can be, especially as the tournament looms."
Then, the Eagles were back on the road as they looked to regroup and remain amongst the best in the SAC. As the Orange and Blue secured a 6-1 win over Newberry, it would mark the first time they've won back-to-back matches since 2006. Prior to the result on Friday, C-N had lost every match following a win, as Newberry maintains the 12-5 series lead since 2006.
"A dominant win for the boys," graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said.
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim five out of six matches as the Wolves would get even to start off the action before C-N rattled off five straight wins to gather their seventh SAC win of the spring. The lone loss for C-N came by the valiant efforts of Marnix Van Dalen, who stepped up despite not feeling his best, but he came up short and had to retire after the first set got to 3-1.
Finally, C-N would look to keep the win train a-rolling as they headed to the Queen City to meet the Royals on Saturday. Unlike their female counterparts, the Orange and Blue came up just short despite playing for every match with grit and determination.
Saturday's result marks the ninth straight win for the Royals over C-N, winning every match between the two programs since 2013-14.
"A heartbreaking loss for the boys. We knew that it was going to be a battle from the beginning. Started out 3-0 down with doubles, and #1 and #2 singles, with their players playing some of the best tennis I've ever seen in DII tennis," graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said.
Unfortunately for C-N, as they fought back and tied the match at three apiece, they would see another heartbreaking defeat after senior leader, Rintaro Oka, started cramping and was forced to retire in a three-set match.
SCOUTING #27 ANDERSON (S.C.)
"One point," head coach Jim Frederick said. That is all that stood between Carson-Newman men's tennis and victory over Anderson in the 2021 meeting. However, the Trojans left with their 11th straight series win over C-N and with the 4-3 team victory, handing C-N its first conference loss on the year.
The final match of the night came down to sophomore Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and his Trojans opponent. The match started out in Waterbolk's favor as he claimed the first set 6-4 before Anderson stormed back and got a 7-6 decision to fall their way in set two.
The third set was a nail-biter but Anderson's player stepped up big time and held Waterbolk to only two games the whole set, winning the set and match 6-2 for Anderson.
So far this season, Anderson has maintained its spot as one of the top five men's tennis programs in the SAC. The Trojans (13-5, 9-2 SAC) currently sit second in the conference behind the likes of Queens who have only one conference blemish to their name. Anderson is also currently riding a five-match win streak into the meeting with C-N, including wins over Lenoir-Rhyne, Lincoln Memorial, and Wingate.
Against the 31st-ranked Bulldogs, Anderson would take home a 4-3 win as they marked their first ever win against Wingate at their home courts and gathered their fourth straight conference win of 2022. Anderson claimed the doubles point with wins in the number two and three flights before winning three out of six singles matches. It was junior Spence Snow who grinded out a 7-6, 7-6 win for the Trojans to help the Black and Gold seal the win.
SCOUTING CATAWBA
Saturday will mark the first time in three seasons in which the Eagles and Indians match wits, as the two sides last met in March 2019. The Eagles would take home a 4-3 victory in the meeting, including winning the doubles point and three singles matches.
However, the match highlight came down to Gabriel Dabdab versus Jack Joel in number two singles as the score read 3-3. Dabdab would win the first set 6-4 before Joel stormed back and claimed the second set by the same score. Heading into the decisive third, Dabdab was not messing around as he came out with ease to win 6-1 and clinch the match for the Eagles.
"The guys finally played with heart," Coach Jim Frederick said. "They got off to a good start and won the doubles point and Dabdab took the deciding match 6-1 in the third set."
Heading into this week, Catawba (3-12, 1-7 SAC) is on a seven-match losing streak as they have not seen a victory since March 6 when they defeated Mars Hill 4-3, their lone SAC win of the season as well. During their losing streak, the Indians have been outscored 43-6 as their closest margin of defeat came against Newberry last Saturday, 4-3.
Against the Wolves, Tyler Juergens, Marko Sudar, and Sebastian Zabala would claim wins in singles at the number two, four, and five flights, respectively.
The Indians have a busy week ahead as they travel to Hartsville on Tuesday to play the Coker Cobras, then host the 31st-ranked Wingate Bulldogs on Tuesday before traveling to Wise, Va. for a meeting with the Highland Cavaliers on Thursday. Finally, it will be another road trip for the Indians when they trek to Mossy Creek for Saturday's meeting.
Saturday's meeting for the Orange and Blue will be extra special as they will host the annual Senior Day festivities for the women's program as well. The Eagles will honor the efforts of Rintaro Oka for his time at Mossy Creek.
Opening serve from Anderson is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. between the 23rd-ranked Eagles and 27th ranked Trojans Wednesday. Meanwhile, C-N and Catawba will get started at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman men's tennis at cneagles.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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