VIDEO: Nathan Gangelhoff Interview
VIDEO: Paul Gayk Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Men's Tennis accomplished something it had not in nearly 25 years.
No. 48 Carson-Newman (5-3, 3-1 South Atlantic Conference) with a number next to its name for the first time in 2025 defeated its arch-rival Tusculum (4-8, 2-3 SAC) at the Charles A. "Buddy" Catlett Tennis Complex for the first time since April 11, 2000, marking the beginning of a new era against the Pioneers in Mossy Creek.
Tusculum took the early lead taking the doubles point in a No. 3 tiebreaker after Court No. 1 and Court No. 2 were split between the Eagles and Pios.
"It's always a good feeling (to win every singles match)," Carson-Newman Men's Tennis head coach Nathan Gangelhoff said. "We need to get a little bit better in doubles, we didn't execute as well as we'd like. In doubles, it can be any given day, the Tusculum serve return put volleys away a lot better especially in those crucial moments."
Paul Gayk shined winning his doubles match and his singles match to help the Eagles sweep the first four singles matches of play to win 4-1.
"It's the first time we lost a doubles point in a while," Gayk said. "(in singles) we came out and won like three of four first sets."
The win also cemented the run of Carson-Newman's dominance over Tusculum this year in Jefferson City, as C-N is a beach volleyball win away from ensuring the Pios don't take a win in Jefferson City in any event.
In singles, Carson-Newman dominated winning the first four singles matches to clinch the match after falling in the doubles point. It was freshman Leonard Baecker who clinched the final match, swarmed by his teammates.
SINGLES RESULTS
No. 1: Marnix Van Dalen (C-N) vs. Anton Krondell (TU) 7-6, 3-6, unfinished
No. 2: Gjorgji Jankulovski (C-N) def. Rens Verhaar (TU) 7-5, 7-5
No. 3: Paul Gayk (C-N) def. Nathan Matsuguma (TU) 7-6, 6-3
No. 4: Louis Keenan (C-N) vs. Will Gee (TU) 2-6, 7-6, 1-0, unfinished
No. 5: Matthew Saunders (C-N) def. Miles Ray (TU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 6: Leonard Baecker (C-N) def. Sarthak Sharma (TU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Although Carson-Newman dropped the doubles point to the Pios, it took every ounce of effort as in the tie-breaking match on Court No. 3, it fittingly went the distance into the tiebreaker where Tusculum prevailed to take its only point of the day.
DOUBLES RESULTS
No. 1: Rens Verhaar/Will Gee (TU) def. Gjorgji Jankulovski/Louis Keenan (C-N) 6-2
No. 2: Marnix Van Dalen/Paul Gayk (C-N) def. Anton Krondell/Miles Ray (TU) 6-4
No. 3: Nathan Matsuguma/Angelos Avgeris (TU) def. Matthew Saunders/Leonard Baecker (C-N) 7-6
Carson-Newman is back in action on Saturday, March 22 to taking on Coker at 2 p.m. from the Charles A. "Buddy" Catlett Tennis Complex in Jefferson City. As always, admission is free.
Coker will be playing the second of a back-to-back facing Emory & Henry on the road on Friday, Carson-Newman meanwhile will be well rested with Thursday and Friday off
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