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SEPT.
3 — Leafs Show Youthfulness At MCC Rival Bethel
Team
can't recapture magic from two days earlier; drops 9-0
decision |
Mishawaka, IN — Less than 48 hours after opening its season with a
stunning win over Grace College, the Goshen College men’s tennis team
revealed some of its true inexperience and youth Saturday, dropping a 9-0
decision to Mid-Central Conference rival Bethel College. The Leafs, with
freshmen and sophomores comprising all but one slot on the roster, were able
to take one singles match into three sets and one doubles match into a pro-set
tie breaker, pleasing head coach Stan King in the process.
“Bethel has a strong team again this year and we weren’t able
to make most matches very interesting, especially toward the bottom of the
lineup,” King
said. “But, our guys did play some good tennis. Though we weren’t
able to come away with any match points, I was pleased with the
level of play our young team exhibited in most matches.”
Ironically, Goshen (1-1, 1-1) was led by the play of Tim Yoder,
the lone junior on the roster. Yoder took Bethel’s Zach Grubbs to a
6-2, 2-6, 6-2 decision at number four singles before teaming with freshman
Shyam Sabanathan for a great effort at the number two doubles position. In
that match, Yoder and Sabanathan worked to a 7-6 lead only to lose the last
three games. The twosome then lost the pro-set tie breaker by a 9-7 score.
“Tim Yoder showed some leadership on the court today,” King said. “Of
particular note was the long, three-setter between Yoder and
Grubbs. Tim was able to turn things around and take the second set, but Grubbs
came back
strong in the third set to win. Though Tim is a junior academically,
this is only his second year of playing collegiate tennis after sitting out
his
freshman year. He didn’t play that way today.”
Sophomore Mickey Girma was another flicker of light for the Leafs
Saturday afternoon, as Girma was able to scratch his way to five
game winners in a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to the Pilots’ Francesco Cortez at
the top singles position.
“Mickey and Cortez had some great points and close games before
Cortez took it in straight sets,” King said. “With Girma also
playing for the first time in a Goshen uniform, these are all
good experiences for us as a team. We’ll continue to work at playing
our best tennis as the year continues.”
The Leafs will return to the friendly confines of the Gohsen
College Tennis Complex on Tuesday, when the team will host MCC rival Indiana
Wesleyan University. Match time is set for 4 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Francesco Cortez (B) def Mickey Girma 6-2, 6-3
#2 Joel Dendiu (B) def Shyam Sabanathan 6-2 (retired)
#3 Josh Grubbs (B) def Sheldon Good 6-1, 6-0
#4 Zack Grubbs (B) def Tim Yoder 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
#5 Josh Keifer (B) def Jason Yoder 6-0, 6-0
#6 Ryan Yoder (B) def Matt Harms 6-0, 6-0
Doubles:
#1 Francesco Cortez/Joel Dendiu (B) def Mickey Girma/Sheldon
Good 8-2
#2 Josh Grubbs/Jared Shriner (B) def Shyam Sabanathan/Tim Yoder
9-7
#3 Zack Grubbs/Josh Keifer (B) def Jason Yoder/Matt Harmsc8-2
Exhibition Match:
Brandon Shawhan (B) def Chris Neumann 8-0
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 Junior
Tim Yoder
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