GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin University men's tennis team lost 5-2 to Spring Arbor University on Tuesday at Strikwerda Tennis Center in the final non-conference tune-up before the start of MIAA play this weekend.
Calvin (6-6) started slow as Spring Arbor (9-9) took all three doubles matches to secure the first team point.
In singles, the Knights pushed hard for a comeback by forcing four of the six singles matches into third-set tiebreakers, but were only able to get wins in two of those four as Spring Arbor secured four more points to gain the overall win.
Rodrigo Alipio (Santos, São Paulo, Brazil/COC Universitario) won 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 1-0 (10-5) in number-one singles, and
Mário Neto (Boa Vista, Brazil/Reino) won number-five singles 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7) to gain the other point.
Felipe Sartori (Estr. Basiléia/Colégio Giusto Zonzini) lost his third-set tiebreaker 10-5 in number-three singles and
Emmanuel Henao (Medellin, Columbia/Escuela Normal Superior "La Merced") dropped his third set 10-8 in number-six singles.
COACH'S COMMENT: "It was a cold and windy day and Spring Arbor came out mentally tougher than us at first for doubles and the first set of singles," Calvin co-interim head tennis coach
Jon Goorhouse said. "I'm proud of them fighting back and getting four of the singles matches to third set breakers."
NEXT UP: Calvin men's tennis will return to action on Saturday, March 29, when it opens MIAA play by hosting Hope College at 3:00 PM.
