Men's Tennis | 4/18/2013 2:16:00 PM
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College Men’s Tennis Team got word over the last few days that it’s team and individual rankings have improved. In the latest Coaches NAIA poll the Bulldogs rose from No. 19 to No. 18. The latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s individual rankings were released yesterday and McPherson also garnered some improvement.
Sophomore Rafael Bulnes (Rosmalen, Netherlands) has improved his national singles ranking from No. 20 to No. 19 in the country; his individual ranking in the Central Region remained the same at No. 2. In doubles, Bulnes and doubles partner junior Sean De Young (Anaheim, Calif.) were surprised with a No. 1 ranking in the Central Region and a No. 8 ranking Nationally. Senior Torsten Keil-Long (Claremont, Calif.) improved his singles ranking by moving from No. 19 to No. 12 in the Central Region and making his first appearance in the National Ranking at No. 50. He and doubles partner, junior Mark Mahan (Fullerton, Calif.) improved their Central Region doubles ranking from No. 8 to No. 7. Mahan also cracked into the Central Region singles ranking coming in at No. 14. Senior Slav Bukatin (Moscow, Russia) is currently ranked No. 19 in the Central Region singles ranking and No. 10 in doubles with partner junior Sean Dullaghan (Los Angeles, Calif.).
On Saturday, April 13 the Bulldogs traveled to Ottawa University to take on the Braves who are in their first season returning to tennis competition. The long drive did not seem to affect the ‘Dogs as they made quick work of the Braves dropping 16 games while winning 96. After the match, McPherson traveled to Topeka to take on NCAA Division II opponent Washburn University. The Ichabods were quite a challenge for the Bulldogs. Despite winning two of three doubles matches, Washburn was able to come from behind and secure the match against the Bulldogs in singles taking the middle of the line up from positions 2-5.
On Monday, April 15 McPherson hosted KCAC opponent Southwestern College in a rescheduled match from April 11. The Bulldogs were able to stay focused and played steady on en route to a 9-0 sweep of the Moundbuilders. Michael Irwin (Wichita, Kan.) had the most competitive match of the day needing to come back from down 1-5 to take the first set 7-5 against his opponent and eventually win his match 7-5, 6-2. Later that day MC traveled to Hillsboro to take on Tabor College. The Blue Jays played the Bulldogs tough, but McPherson played a little too steady and secured their second 9-0 sweep of the day. Senior Ronaldo Filho (Sao Paulo, Brazil) had quite a fight on his hands as his opponent took him to the distance in the first set. Filho won the first set tie-break and then cruised in the second set to secure a 7-6, 6-3 win and a sweep for the Bulldogs.
Next up for McPherson are two home matches this weekend versus Friends University and Missouri Valley College. First serve against Friends University is set for 9:00 a.m. (CT) while first serve against Missouri Valley is set for 2:00 p.m.
Final Scores:
McPherson College 9, Ottawa University 0
Doubles:
1) Bukatin/Dullaghan (Mac) def. Brendemuehl/Dippel (OU) 8-5
2) Bulnes/De Young (Mac) def. Vile/Grom (OU) 8-0
3) Mahan/Keil-Long (Mac) def. Lantz/Blech (OU) 8-1
Singles:
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. Jacob Breudemuehl (OU) 6-0, 6-2
2) Mark Mahan (Mac) def. Chase Dippel (OU) 6-2, 6-1
3) Sean De Young (Mac) def. Brenson Vile (OU) 6-1, 6-0
4) Ronaldo Filho (Mac) def. Tanner Lantz (OU) 6-2, 6-1
5) Adolfo Serafin (Mac) def. Matthew Grom (OU) 6-0, 6-0
6) Jordan Stewart (Mac) def. Brad Blech (OU) 6-0, 6-1
Washburn University 5, McPherson College 4
Doubles:
1) Kozaczuk/Fletcher (WU) def. Bukatin/Dullaghan (Mac) 8-2
2) Bulnes/De Young (Mac) def. Joost/Florence (WU) 9-7
3) Mahan/Keil-Long (Mac) def. Schlenker/Laucht (WU) 8-6
Singles:
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. Arek Kozaczuk (WU) 6-0, 6-3
2) Thilo Schlenker (WU) def. Slav Bukatin (Mac) 1-6, 6-1, 12-10
3) Pascal Laucht (WU) def. Mark Mahan (Mac) 6-1, 6-4
4) Steven Fletcher (WU) def. Torsten Keil-Long (Mac) 6-3, 7-6(2)
5) Dario Munoz-Poletti (WU) def. Adolfo Serafin (Mac) 6-2, 6-4
6) Sean De Young (Mac) def. Jake Long (WU) 6-0, 6-0
McPherson College 9, Southwestern College 0
Doubles:
1) Bukatin/Dullaghan (Mac) def. Sapp/Manley (SC) 8-5
2) Bulnes/De Young (Mac) def. Morris/Bond (SC) 8-3
3) Filho/Serafin (Mac) def. Satterthwarte/Riggs (SC) 8-2
Singles:
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. Josh Sapp (SC) 6-0, 6-2
2) Slav Bukatin (Mac) def. Max Manley (SC) 6-0, 6-0
3) Mark Mahan (Mac) def. Nick Morris (SC) 6-0, 6-1
4) Sean Dullaghan (Mac) def. Michael Bond (SC) 6-3, 6-1
5) Jordan Stewart (Mac) def. Jessie Riggs (SC) 6-1, 6-0
6) Michael Irwin (Mac) def. Hollace Dillon (SC) 7-5, 6-2
McPherson College 9, Tabor College 0
Doubles:
1) Bulnes/De Young (Mac) def. Simmet/Panttaja (TC) 8-4
2) Mahan/Keil-Long (Mac) def. Vix/Dort (TC) 8-6
3) Serafin/Filho (Mac) def. Brucks/Brucks (TC) 8-1
Singles:
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. David Simmet (TC) 6-2, 7-5
2) Mark Mahan (Mac) def. Kelyn Vix (TC) 6-1, 6-1
3) Torsten Keil-Long (Mac) def. Tyler Dort (TC) 6-1, 6-1
4) Sean De Young (Mac) def. Nate Panttaja (TC) 6-1, 6-2
5) Ronaldo Filho (Mac) def. Jake Brucks (TC) 7-6, 6-3
6) Jordan Stewart (Mac) def. Sam Brucks (TC) 6-2, 6-2
