JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the final time in 2022, 33rd-ranked Carson-Newman men's tennis (14-7, 8-4 SAC) were on the courts of the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex as they hosted the Catawba College Catawba Indians on Saturday. In the first meeting between the two sides since 2019, it was the Orange and Blue dominating from start to finish en route to a clean 7-0 sweep.
Saturday's matinee saw the Eagles look in firm control from the beginning as they swept doubles action and saw a combined 18-8 margin across all action.
In number one doubles, Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) and Gjorgji Jankulovski (Macedonia) started off the day with a 6-1 win to help C-N get on the right track. The duo is now 14-7 overall and 7-5 against SAC competition at the end of the 2022 regular season.
Very soon after, the pairing of Marnix Van Dalen (Netherlands) and Rintaro Oka (Narita, Japan) clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 result from number three doubles. This moves Oka and Van Dalen to 9-10 overall and 5-5 in 2022.
In number two doubles, the pairing of Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) and Lars Hordijk (Dordrecht, South Holland) kept the winning alive as they would win with the biggest match margin, with a final of 6-1. This moves Janse and Hordijk to 13-8 overall and 8-4 as a pair in 2022.
"Big time win today for the Eagles as we near the SAC Tournament and look to keep ourselves within regional perspective," head coach Jim Frederick said. "I think this guy's team can do something special and I'm excited to watch them in Sumter."
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim all six matches, as number four would see a one-set eight game format.
The lead grew to 2-0 for the Orange and Blue after freshman and 43rd-ranked singles player in all Division II, Marnix Van Dalen, captured a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the number one flight. The Netherlands native wraps up his first regular season as an Eagle with a record of 12-9 overall and 8-4 in SAC play with all matches at the number one position.
Ids Waterbolk would be next to wrap up as he claimed a 6-1, 6-1 result and pushed C-N ahead 3-0. As his junior year comes to a close, the Netherlands native finished 16-4 overall and 9-2 in SAC play ahead of the upcoming SAC Tournament.
As Father Fate would have it, Saturday also marked the annual Senior Day festivities for the Eagles. As the men's program honored their lone senior post-match, Rintaro Oka, the Japan native went out and clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-4 result. For his final regular season, Oka is 12-8 overall and 8-4 against the SAC this spring.
"Seeing Rin develop and play the sport of tennis is something I truly don't take for granted," graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said. "He's not only a phenomenal athlete, but he's become one of my best friends and I'm proud to say that."
In the lone eight-game pro set of the day, it was freshman Gjorgji Jankulovski playing the number four flight. As the match was determined ahead of his match start, the Macedonia native came out on top by a final of 8-1. This moves to Jankulovski to 16-5 overall and 11-1 in conference. With his 16 wins of the spring, Jankulovski moves alongside fellow teammate, Marc Janse, with new program records for the 2022 season.
Speaking of Mr. Janse, the junior would make it 6-0 on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-1 decision. This pushes Janse to 17-4 overall and 10-2 for SAC play in 2022.
Finally, the match became a clean sweep after Lars Hordijk pulled out another impressive result, winning 6-3, 6-2. For his first full season on the courts, Hordijk is 16-5 overall and 9-3 in SAC play.
Carson-Newman will now turn their attention to the 2022 SAC Men's Tennis Championships as the Orange and Blue have been pitted as the number six seed, facing number three seed Wingate on Thursday at 9 a.m. The 2022 version of the SAC Tournament takes place from April. 21-23 in Sumter, S.C. at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
"We, along with the rest of the top six, have a really good chance to beat anyone we face," Hordijk said. "I think this team will continue making a massive impression and showcase our talent when it comes to the Tournament."
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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