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SEPT.
19 — Leafs Still Looking For MCC Win After Indy Trip
Goshen
falls to Marian by 7-2 count; team's third consecutive
conference loss |
Indianapolis, IN — A lengthy bus ride south did not cure the Goshen
College men’s tennis team’s urge for a Mid-Central Conference
win Tuesday, as the Leafs dropped a 2-7 decision to host Marian College in
Indianapolis.
Goshen (3-3, 0-3) picked up points at number two singles and
number one doubles on the afternoon, as the team dropped its third straight
conference and overall match — all after starting the season with three
straight wins, a streak last accomplished by a Leafs’ team in 2002.
“We weren’t able to come up with a team win against a strong
Marian team today, but we did come up with some good singles
and doubles play,” said
Stan King, Goshen head coach. “We are now about halfway through our
season of dual matches, and overall I’m pleased with the progress we’ve
made as a team. Hopefully, we’ll be able to maintain this direction
during the remaining weeks.”
Freshman Aaron Sutter’s play was the highlight for Goshen in singles’ action,
as the first-year player dealt Marian’s Clay Schneider a stout 6-1,
6-3 defeat in the number two slot. Junior Beakal Girma and sophomore
Shyam Sabanathan teamed for an impressive 8-3 win in the Leafs’ number
one doubles position, carding the first MCC win for Goshen at
any doubles spot.
“It was nice to see Aaron Sutter back in good singles form on
his way to taking a convincing 6-1, 6-3 number two singles win
from Clay Schneider,” King said. “This win was a good boost for
the team as well, as was our doubles win by Beakal Girma and Shyam Sabanathan.
Both
were our first conference wins in three tries at these positions.”
Sabanathan finally displayed respectable form in singles as well,
dealing with a nagging upper arm injury all season. Sabanathan’s 6-2,
7-5 defeat to Marian’s Neil Knies at the number five singles position
was the closest score of the day, with freshman Joel King not far behind
in a 6-1, 7-5 defeat at the number three position.
“Joel King and Shyam Sabanathan lost in straight sets, but both
did well in extending their second sets to 7-5 scores,” Stan King said. “It
meant a lot to the team to have Shyam Sabanathan in the line
up for both singles and doubles. Due to an upper arm injury, his participation
in matches
has been restricted this season, and in this match he had to
limit both spin and pace on his serves so as not to inflame the injury.”
Senior JD Windhorst picked up the only other set point on the
afternoon, defeating Marian’s Alex Bienz by a 7-6 (4) score in the
first stanza. Unfortunately Windhorst could not push that momentum in to
any of the following sets, dropping the match by a 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-0 score.
“JD Windhorst came through with a nice tie-breaker first set win
at number six singles over a strong opponent, Alex Bienz, before
losing the match in three sets,” Stan King said. “Beakal Girma
lost at number one by a rather lopsided 6-1, 6-2 score, but most
games went to deuce and
his opponent did a great job of winning strategic points to finish
games.”
Goshen will look to Grace College for its first conference win
of the season, as the team heads to Winona Lake Thursday to hook
up with the Lancers. Goshen defeated Grace by a 6-3 score on
Sept. 9 in a non-conference
meeting between the teams (click here for
recap). Thursday’s match
time is set to begin at 3 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Jesse Martin (M) def Beakal Girma 6-1, 6-2
#2 Aaron Sutter (G) def Clay Schneider 6-1, 6-3
#3 Jesse Miller (M) def Joel King 6-1, 7-5
#4 Pete Trgovich (M) def Sheldon Good 6-1, 6-0
#5 Neil Knies (M) def Shyam Sabanathan 6-2, 7-5
#6 Alex Bienz (M) def J D Windhorst 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-0
Doubles:
#1 Girma/Sabanathan (G) def Schneider/Miller 8-3
#2 Martin/Knies (M) def Sutter/King 8-2
#3 Bienz/Clint Brand (M) def Windhorst/Tim Yoder 8-3
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  Freshman
Aaron Sutter
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