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SEPT.
20 — Solid Play Doesn't Equal Win At Spring Arbor
Leafs
play some best tennis of season but fall to Cougars by
8-1 score |
Spring Arbor, MI — Perhaps the best effort of the season by the Goshen
College men’s tennis team wasn’t enough Tuesday afternoon at
Mid-Central Conference foe Spring Arbor University, as the hsot Cougars took
an 8-1 decision from the Leafs. Goshen head coach Stan King said he was genuinely
pleased with the team’s efforts, but realized his squad’s youth — and
Spring Arbor’s overall talent — was too much to overcome in looking
for the team’s second MCC win of the year.
“We lost to a good Spring Arbor team, but the lopsided 8-1 score
does not do justice to how well most of our guys played today,” King
said. “If anything else, this match should serve as a confidence builder
for several of our young players.”
Goshen (1-5, 1-5) received its lone point at the top of the singles
order, as sophomore Mickey Girma recorded his first win of the year over
Spring Arbor’s Matt Lantz by a 6-2, 6-3 score. Lantz entered the match
with just one loss on his season resume, giving King a sense of promise from
his second-year player.
“Mickey Girma had a breakout win with superb play over Matt Lantz,
a very good player in his own right,” King said. “Girma moved
well while defending against his opponent’s power and angled shots
and showed skill and patience in setting up winners of his own.”
Freshman Shyam Sabanathan nearly secured a second point for the
Leafs at number two singles, dropping a heartbreaking 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 decision
to Spring Arbor’s Jordan Hoy. A super tie-breaker was instilled for
the third set on account of time restraints.
“Shyam Sabanathan probably played his best match of the season
while losing at number two singles in a super tie-breaker, third
set,” King
said.
The Leafs were defeated in straight sets in the remainder of
the singles matches, but sophomore Jason Yoder and freshman Sheldon Good
received praise from King at the number five and three singles slots, respectively.
“Sheldon Good and Jason Yoder did a good job of extending rallies
and also played some of their best tennis of the season,” King said. “Our
doubles play was not very sharp early on in matches, as we quickly
lost the first four to six games in each contest. However, we were able then
to turn
things around for the remaining games and make it a contest in
all three matches.”
Goshen will hope that a hiatus from Mid-Central Conference play
may be a turning point, as the team will play its first non-league match
next Tuesday at Earlham College. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Mickey Girma (G) def Matt Lantz 6-2, 6-3
#2 Jordan Hoy (S) def Shyam Sabanathan 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 (super
tie-breaker for 3rd set)
#3 Troy Heselschwerdt (S) def Sheldon Good 6-3, 6-3
#4 Matt DeRose (S) def Tim Yoder 6-2, 6-1
#5 Phil Mayes (S) def Jason Yoder 6-3, 6-2
#6 Wade Clark (S) def Matt Harms 6-2, 6-4
Doubles:
#1 Matt Lantz/Jordan Hoy (S) def Mickey Girma/Sheldon Good 8-2
#2 Troy Heselschwerdt/Matt DeRose (S) Shyam Sabanathan/Tim Yoder
8-5
#3 Dan Peters/Phil Mayes (S) def Jason Yoder/Matt Harms 8-4
Exhibition Match: Jason Atkins (S) def Chris Neumann 8-6
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 Sophomore
Mickey Girma
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