Mishawaka, IN — With a chance to defeat Mid-Central Conference rival Bethel College Saturday morning, the Goshen College men’s tennis team snared its opportunity.
But then the squad gave it back.
Goshen (1-3, 1-2) allowed leads in all three doubles matches to slip away, eventually dropping all three doubles flights en route to a 6-3 Pilots’ team win. Bethel, winners of the last seven meetings between the squads, could only split in singles’ action on Saturday but the damage had been done: An 8-5 win at number one doubles, an 8-4 win at number two and an 8-6 decision at number three — all in come-from-behind fashion — would give the hosts all the breathing room they would need.
“We had a great shot at winning this match, but we fell short (in doubles play) to start things off,” said Stan King, Goshen head coach. “This match should teach us the importance of converting leads to wins, if anything. Bethel did a great job of coming from behind in doubles, but we have to finish opponents off when we have the chance.”
King’s squad had ample opportunity in all three doubles’ flights, as senior Beakal Girma and freshman Sashi Sabanathan shot out to a 5-2 lead at the top doubles’ flight. Bethel’s Kiko Crotes and Jared Shriner took the next six games, however, cruising to the 8-5 win.
Sophomore Joel King and freshman Alex Dominguez faltered a 4-2 lead at the number two position (an 8-4 Pilots’ win) while junior Sheldon Good and freshman Chanuk Algama possessed a 4-3 lead before falling by an 8-6 score.
“Sheldon and Chanuk were playing well, then lost four straight games to fall behind 4-7,” Stan King said. “Incredibly, they came back to win the next two, but eventually couldn’t keep up that pace.”
Goshen’s singles play was good enough for a team win, as Sabanathan (number two singles) and Dominguez (number three) each took commanding, straight-set wins over their counterparts, with Dominguez handling the Pilots’ Josh Keifer 6-1, 6-4. Algama outlasted Bethel’s Josh Hellman in an absolute marathon at the number six singles position, taking a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 10-8 super tie-breaker decision.
“Alex again dominated on his way to a two-set win and Sashi came back from an 0-3 deficit in the first set to win in straight sets,” Stan King said. “Chanuk played remarkably well down the stretch, as a 10-point super tie-breaker was used instead of a third set. He came back from a 1-5 deficit to win it with some composure.”
The Leafs’ best chance at another point — outside of the team’s doubles’ opportunities — came from Joel King at number four singles. King was able to stretch Bethel’s Ryan Yoder to a 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 match.
“Joel did a nice job of extending his match, but Yoder proved to be too much in the end,” Stan King said. “Hopefully we can learn from this match immediately. We have the ability to take points from talented opponents. We just have to finish them out.”
Goshen will return to MCC action on Tuesday, when the team will host Indiana Wesleyan University. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Singles:
#1 Kiko Cortes (B) def Beakal Girma 6-0, 6-1
#2 Sashi Sabanathan (G) def Jared Shriner 6-4, 6-4
#3 Alex Dominguez (G) def Josh Keifer 6-1, 6-4
#4 Ryan Yoder (B) def Joel King 6-0, 1-6, 6-3
#5 Robbie Harman (B) def Sheldon Good 6-3, 6-2
#6 Chanuk Algama (G) def Josh Hellman 7-6(5), 3-6, 10-8 (super tie breaker)
Doubles:
#1 Kiko Cortes/Jared Shriner (B) def Beakal Girma/Sashi Sabanathan 8-5
#2 Josh Keifer/Ryan Yoder (B) def Alex Dominguez/Joel King 8-4
#3 Robbie Harman/Mikael Dodge (B) def Sheldon Good/Chanuk Algama 8-6
Exhibition matches:
Toews/Kauffman (G) def Todia/Faupel 9-7
Ben Toews (G) def Bethel 8-4
|
Freshman Chanuk Algama