ANDERSON, S.C. – For the second straight match, it is a 4-3 defeat befalling the 23rd-ranked Carson-Newman men's tennis (13-7, 7-4 SAC) as the 2022 regular season dwindles down. Wednesday marked a pivotal meeting with the 27th-ranked Anderson Trojans (14-5, 10-2 SAC) from Anderson, as the host program moved to 8-1 at home with the win as they remain a top SAC men's tennis program.
Since 2011, the Trojans are a perfect 11-0 over the Eagles as the previous two meetings have ended with a final of 4-3. Before then, the closest result came in April 2014 when Anderson gathered a 5-4 win back then.
"We did not play our best today and the match results show that. There are many good teams in this conference," head coach Jim Frederick said. "Our next match versus Catawba is one we should be able to control."
The Orange and Blue would not be able to gain any early momentum as the host Trojans swept doubles with only one match being decided by two games or less.
In the number one doubles spot for the Orange and Blue, Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Gjorgji Jankulovski (Macedonia) fell by a final of 6-3 to Greyson Doscotch/Aaron Cabo. The pairing moves to 13-7 overall this spring and 6-5 in SAC competition.
The pairing of Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) and Lars Hordijk (Dordrecht, South Holland) would see the closest doubles result as they were no match for Adam Kush/Lorenzo Martinetti, falling 7-5 to move to 12-8 overall and 7-4 against SAC foes.
Finally, Marnix Van Dalen (Netherlands) and Rintaro Oka (Narita, Japan) were paired up in the number three doubles flight. The duo would falter by a final of 6-2 to AU's Juan Sengariz/Julian Kenzlers. This moves Van Dalen/Oka to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in SAC action.
Singles competition saw the Orange and Blue be winners in three matches, but it would not be enough as Anderson kept the momentum with wins in the remaining flights to secure the pivotal win at home.
The Eagles got even on the scoreboard by the efforts of Marc Janse as the junior pulled out a 6-3, 7-5 win at the number two singles flight. After suffering a loss against Queens (N.C.), the win on Wednesday moves Janse to a team leading 16-4 overall in 2022.
The margin would once more become event at 2-2 as Gjorgji Jankulovski rattled out another win at number four singles. The freshman gathered his 15th win of the spring by a final of 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. Jankulovski is now sitting at 15-5 overall and 10-1 in SAC play for his debut season.
At number one singles, 47th-ranked Marnix Van Dalen would pull out a gutsy victory for his 11th win of the spring as he moved to 11-9 overall and 7-4 against SAC foes. With a 7-6 (13-0), 7-5 victory, Van Dalen made it 3-2 as the Orange and Blue would be one match away from the win.
However, despite pulling even at multiple moments of the match and being one step away from another SAC win, the Eagles would not be able to hold serve as they dropped results in the number three, five, and six flights.
The Orange and Blue would see Ids Waterbolk drop a 6-3, 6-2 result to AU's Aaron Cabo in number five action. He would be joined, unfortunately, in the losing side of play by Lars Hordijk at number six as the sophomore faltered 6-2, 6-4.
The last result came by way of number three singles and Rintaro Oka. The Japan native looked to respond after having to retire against Queens, but he would fall 7-5, 6-0 as the Trojans pulled out another SAC win ahead of the 2022 Tournament next week.
"At the end of the day, Anderson is a great team and deserves all the credit," Frederick said.
No. 23 Carson-Newman returns home for the final time this regular season as they host the Catawba Indians on Saturday. The Eagles will also host their annual Senior Day festivities as first serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. with the Eagles honoring Rintaro Oka for his time as an Eagle.
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.
-CN-
