Eagles see two matches in two days
Carson-Newman (5-8, 3-4 SAC) will look to pick up momentum heading into the rest of their SAC schedule
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (5-8, 3-4 SAC) will look to pick up momentum heading into the rest of their SAC schedule, beginning with a matchup with the Mars Hill Lions (2-8, 1-7 SAC) on Tuesday from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.
"I think it will be tough and very important to win because Mars Hill has a very competitive team this year," grad student Gabriel Dabdab said. "Our team will not beat ourselves and the other team has to put their full effort in to overcome us."
This past Saturday saw C-N take to the road for a big-time matchup against number 13 Wingate from the Wingate Tennis Complex. Although the Eagles were handed a 6-1 team defeat, sophomore Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) were crucial in C-N avoiding the sweep. With his 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 decision at number two singles, Janse moves to 7-0 in singles play against SAC opponents in 2021 which helped pad his team-leading singles record of 9-4 overall. He is currently tied for sixth for the season record for most singles win in a season, one behind teammate Gabriel Dabdab (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) who collected 10 in the 2017 season.
Dabdab decided to come back because he was not fulfilled with how the season ended last year. As he has done all season, Dabdab will look to provide a spark to help the Eagles gain a crucial win. In 2021, Dabdab is second on the team with a singles record of 7-6 overall and 4-3 against SAC opposition. He and sophomore Ids Waterbolk (Bennekom, Netherlands) will also strive to get back to .500 in doubles action as the pair currently sit at 3-4 on the year against the SAC and 5-8 overall.
Janse is also a part of the leading doubles pair for C-N alongside Oka who have played five matches together and won three of the five. The next closest pair is Dabdab and Waterbolk who play as the number one pair and hold a 5-8 record in 2021.
In the series history between the two programs, Carson-Newman has been able to gain victories in four out of the last five matchups including the last two from Jefferson City. When the two pair up from the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex, the last Mars Hill win came in 2015 as they defeated the Eagles 5-4.
After battling with the Lions, C-N will turn right back around and travel to Greeneville on Wednesday for a matchup with the Tusculum Pioneers (9-3, 5-2 SAC). When squaring up with the Pioneers, C-N has not won in 11 attempts since 2009. The closest margin of victory for Tusculum was the first-ever matchup in 2009 when they were victorious 5-4 over C-N. Since then, they have rattled off 10 straight wins while C-N will look to stop the streak where it is now.
First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on both Tuesday from Jefferson City and Wednesday from Greeneville. Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman men's tennis at cneagles.com and via all social media accounts.
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