McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College men's tennis team had a strong start to their 2016 season with a 5-4 win over ITA No. 34 Newman University on Sunday.
After losing at No. 2 doubles, Mac would take the other two with Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez and Hector Carrillo Perales winning 9-7 at the No. 1 position and Kurt Burton and Ahmed Lahlou winning 8-5 at the No. 3 slot.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-1, needing just one more point for the win, after Lahlou and Leandro Neix took down their respective opponents. Newman didn't go down without a fight as they pushed the score to 4-3 with wins at No. 1 and No. 5. Fortunately for Mac, Hugo Ball-Greene would bring the match home with his 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 4 spot.
MC will take on Cardinal Stritch University in their next time out; the neutral site contest is scheduled for March 4th in Kansas City, Missouri.
Final Score:
McPherson College 5 – Newman University 4
Doubles
1. Fajula Rodriguez/ Carrillo Perales (Mac) def. Santos/Pyle (NU) 9-7
2. Coiras/King (NU) def. Leandro/Ball-Greene (Mac) 8-3
3. Burton/Lahou (Mac) def. Ebinal/Clack (NU) 8-5
Singles
1. Eduardo Santos (NU) def. Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez (Mac) 6-4, 7-5
2. Ahmed Lahlou (Mac) def. Max Pyle (NU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Daniel Smith (NU) def. Hector Carrillo Perales (Mac) 3-6, 8-7, 6-3
4. Hugo Ball-Greene (Mac) def. Ajani King (NU) 6-7, 6-1, 6-1
5. Kevin Clack (NU) def. Juan Alejandro Jimenez (Mac) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
6. Leandro Neix (Mac) def. Andre Ebinal (NU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish:
D – 2, 1, 3
S – 6, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3