Men's Tennis Bows to Bethune-Cookman, Falls at #23 Florida Southern
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Merrimack men's tennis team suffered a 6-3 setback at Division I Bethune-Cookman and a 7-2 loss at #23 Florida Southern Thursday afternoon. The Warriors slip to 7-4 on the season while the Wildcats improve to 10-10 overall and the Mocassins move to 9-9 with the win.
"We played hard today against very good teams today," said head coach Sean Tully. "Our second match of the day was one of the hardest fought matches we've played all season. Our doubles teams battled and played some really tight matches. Playing against teams of this caliber will benefit us in the future as when we restart the conference schedule."
Bethune-Cookman claimed two of the three doubles matches to grasp a 2-1 lead in the match. Max Eppley (Malaga, Spain) and Sean Pahler (Rumson, NJ) rolled to an 8-1 victory at the No. 1 doubles slot. Chris Barnhart (Longmeadow, MA) and Vince Bellino (Amesbury, MA) were edged 9-7 at the second position.
The Wildcats captured four singles wins to seal the non-conference victory.
Petar Golijanin (Novi Sad, Serbia) prevailed in an eight-game pro-set at the No. 2 spot, 8-2. Pahler registered Merrimack only other singles win on the day, claiming a 6-4, 6-3 decision at the fifth singles match.
In the Warriors' second match of the day, #23 Florida Southern grabbed an early 2-1 lead with a pair of doubles wins. Merrimack's lone doubles victory came at the No. 1 position. The visitors' top pair of Eppley and Pahler triumphed 8-6.
Barnhart and Bellino suffered a slim 9-7 loss at the second slot. The duo faced match point but could not convert to claim the win. The Mocassins tandem battled back to take the match 9-7.
Golijanin and Chris Toegemann (Narragansett, RI) fell by the slim margin of 8-6 at the No. 3 spot.
Barnhart registered the Warriors' only victory in singles action in the match. The sophomore earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at the No. 3 singles position.
Merrimack will close out in its trip to the Sunshine State March 23 at Florida Tech.
RESULTS
Merrimack vs. Bethune-Cookman
Doubles
1. Eppley/Pahler (MER) def. Varon/Lobelo (BCU) 8-1
2. Misanovic/Kibet (BCU) def. Barnhart/Bellino (MER) 9-7
3. Garvito/Vassiliev (BCU) def. Golijanin/Toegemann (MER) 8-3
Singles
1. Misanovic (BCU) def. Eppley (MER) 6-2, 6-2
2. Golijanin (MER) def. Kibet (BCU) 8-2
3. Vassiliev (BCU) def. Barnhart (MER) 6-4, 6-3
4. Jackson (BCU) def. Bellino (MER) 6-4, 6-1
5. Pahler (MER) def. Belucci (BCU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Pronath (BCU) def. Toegemann (MER) 6-1, 6-0
Merrimack vs. #23 Florida Southern
Doubles
1. Eppley/Pahler (MER) def. Marevic/Gutierrez (FSU) 8-6
2. Paradis/Lueber (FSU) def. Barnhart/Bellino (MER) 9-7
3. Leavitt/Barabash (FSU) def. Toegemann/Golijanin (MER) 8-6
Singles
1. Paradis (FSU) def. Eppley (MER) 6-0, 6-2
2. Lueber (FSU) def. Golijanin (MER) 6-1, 6-1
3. Barnhart (MER) def. Leavitt (FSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Lundberg (FSU) def. Bellino (MER) 6-2, 6-1
5. Gutierrez (FSU) def. Pahler (MER) 6-2, 6-3
6. Garneau (FSU) def. Toegemann (MER) 6-1, 6-2
