Men’s Tennis Opens Spring Break Trip with Triumphs over Carroll, SCAD-Savannah

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Goucher College men's tennis team finally opened play during their Spring Break trip in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday, and the Gophers collected a pair of victories over Carroll (5-4) and SCAD-Savannah (8-1).

With the victories, the Gophers moved to 12-2 overall for the year.

Goucher 5, Carroll 4 | Results

After having the first match of their Spring Break trip was suspended on Tuesday, the Gophers fought back from a 3-1 deficit to collect a thrilling 5-4 win over Carroll.

In doubles action, Goucher fell behind 2-0, dropping matches in the number two and number one positions. But, at number three, the tandem of junior Elliot Diehl (Washington, D.C.) and sophomore Slade Dumas (Great Falls, Va.) pulled out an 8-5 win to put Goucher on the board entering singles.

But, there, Carroll won at number two to take a 3-1 lead. From here on out, however, Goucher would win four straight singles matches to clinch their 11th victory of the year.

At number one singles, first-year Tetsuya Ota (Winter Park, Fla.) made it a 3-2 match with a three-set victory (6-7 (4-7), 6-0, 10-3), while at number three, sophomore Michael Herman (Prague, Czech Republic) was also a three-set victor (7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 10-7) to even the match up at 3-3.

In the bottom of the Goucher singles line-up, the Gophers rolled to clinch the victory. First, at number six, Diehl coasted to a 6-2, 6-1 win, then at number five, Dumas sewed up the win with a straight set win of his own (6-3, 6-2).

Goucher 8, SCAD-Savannah 1 | Results

In the night-cap against SCAD, the Gophers coasted, winning their fourth match of the season by an 8-1 margin.

First, in doubles, Goucher collected a win at number three by default, while Herman and sophomore Frankie Mullinix (Washington, D.C.) gutted out a 9-8 (8-6) win on a tie-break.

It was more of the same for Goucher in singles, as the Gophers won the three matches in which SCAD had a player in the line-up for (Goucher won matches at number three, five and six singles by default).

First, in the top spot of the line-up, Ota notched a 7-5, 6-1 win to improve his record on the year to 10-3 overall (8-2 in dual matches). Senior Jack Hodges (London, England) rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 win at number two singles, while in the fourth spot, Dumas finished his day off with a 6-3, 6-2 win. Dumas is now 13-2 overall on the year in singles and has won seven matches in a row, as well.

The Goucher College men's tennis team will make-up their match with Carleton (that was set to be played Tuesday) on Thursday in Hilton Head beginning at 1 p.m.

--GOPHERS--