Men's Tennis | 4/13/2014 1:53:00 PM
Wichita, Kan. – The McPherson College Bulldogs traveled to Wichita to take on the Newman University Jets and the Friends University Falcons this past Thursday. The day was split as the 'Dogs saw early leads dissipate against the Jets but rallied to defeat the Falcons.
Thursday started with the Newman University Jets, and winds gusting up to 20+ mph. In doubles, the Bulldogs looked to be in control winning number two doubles 8-6 to take the 1-0 lead. Number one doubles was serving for the match at 7-6 however, they lost control and dropped it in the tie-breaker; number two doubles broke to go up 6-5, but the Jets were able to win the last 3 games to secure the victory and a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
In singles, McPherson's top player Rafael Bulnes (Rosmalen, Netherlands) had to stay mentally strong to stay on top of his opponent, a very good Eduardo Santos, to defeat him 6-4, 6-2. Freshman Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez (Olot, Spain) took his opponent apart and defeated him handily 6-1, 6-2. The remaining singles matches did not go the Bulldogs' way as Newman took #3-6 singles all in straight sets.
Against Friends University, Mac looked to make up for the disappointment against Newman. They did so by sweeping all three doubles matches. The number three doubles duo of freshman Connar Schafer (McPherson, Kan.) and junior Michael Irwin (Wichita, Kan.) made quick work of their opponents to start the 'Dogs off with their 8-2 win. At number two doubles senior Sean De Young (Anaheim, Calif.) and junior Jordan Stewart (Sterling, Kan.) stayed steady to defeat their opponents 8-4. The number one pair of Bulnes and Fajula fought off a tough Friends team, securing the victory 9-7 to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead going into singles.
The Bulldogs won 5 of the 6 available points in singles play. Top Bulldog Bulnes cruised in his first set and stayed strong in his second to defeat his opponent 6-0, 6-4. Senior Mark Mahan (Fullerton, Calif.) came through with a very good win at number three singles defeating his opponent 6-1, 6-4 while fellow senior De Young secured the match for the Bulldogs with his win at number four singles 6-1, 6-0. The Falcons were able to claim number five singles against Allen Darmawan (Mission Viejo, Calif.), but teammate Jaime Roman (Santa Ana, Calif.) cleaned it up for the Bulldogs with this shutout victory at number six 6-0, 6-0 to give the Bulldogs a very good 8-1 win.
Final Scores:
Newman University 6, McPherson College 3
Doubles
1) Santos/Dos Santos (NU) def. Bulnes/Fajula (Mac) 9-8
2) Mahan/Darmawan (Mac) def. Pyle/Sanchez (NU) 8-6
3) Kim/Bendito (NU) def. Stewart/De Young (Mac) 8-6
Singles
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. Eduardo Santos (NU) 6-4, 6-2
2) Joan-Marc Fajula (Mac) def. Neo Dos Santos (NU) 6-1, 6-2
3) Evgeniy Kim (NU) def. Mark Mahan (Mac) 7-6, 6-2
4) Freddy Sanchez (NU) def. Sean De Young (Mac) 6-3, 6-0
5) Miguel Bendito (NU) def. Allen Darmawan (Mac) 6-2, 7-6
6) Max Pyle (NU) def. Jaime Roman (Mac) 6-4, 7-5
McPherson College 8, Friends University 1
Doubles
1) Bulnes/Fajula (Mac) def. Berner/Ostrowicki (FU) 9-7
2) Jordan Stewart/De Young (Mac) def. Nikolic/Trollman (FU) 8-4
3) Connor Schafer/Michael Irwin (Mac) def. Neuhaus/Thayer (FU) 8-2
Singles:
1) Rafael Bulnes (Mac) def. Eric Berner (FU) 6-0, 6-4
2) Joan-Marc Fajula (Mac) def. Ferdi Ostrowicki (FU) 6-3, 7-6
3) Mark Mahan (Mac) def. Stefan Nikolic (FU) 6-1, 6-4
4) Sean De Young (Mac) def. Jonas Neuhaus (FU) 6-1, 6-0
5) Patrick Trollman (FU) def. Allen Daramawan (Mac) 6-2, 7-6
6) Jaime Roman (Mac) def. Jacob Thayer (FU) 6-0, 6-0
