Eagles hit the road for two matches in four days
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Two matches this week is what’s on tap for Carson-Newman men’s tennis after wrapping up a successful start to SAC play.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Two matches this week is what's on tap for Carson-Newman men's tennis after wrapping up a successful start to SAC play. The Eagles (7-2, 2-0 SAC) will hit the road for a SAC matchup with the Newberry Wolves on Tuesday before making the trek to Athens, Tenn. to face a top-tier NAIA program in Tennessee Wesleyan.
Carson-Newman comes into this week after claiming a pair of clean sweeps over the Coker Cobras and Limestone Saints from Jefferson City.
Against the Cobras, the Eagles dominated in doubles to gain the early 1-0 lead as they never looked back.
"We didn't start off playing our best, but it is a good way to start conference play with almost no major setbacks," graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said. "Marc and Ids both went three sets, but they were able to battle back and keep the sweep alive."
Singles competition saw the Eagles claim all six matches, as number three and five would only see a one-set eight game format.
C-N would go ahead 2-0 after Jankulovski won his number four singles match by a final of 6-3, 6-3. From there, Marc Janse would make it 3-0 for the Eagles as he won a three-set thriller over Coker's Decaluwe. After winning the first set 6-2, Janse dropped the second set by a final of 3-6. This set up the deciding third set, which Janse took 6-4.
The score moved ahead 4-0 for C-N after Ids Waterbolk would take another three-set thriller. Playing the reigning SAC men's tennis player of the week in Nolan Smith, Waterbolk took a close 7-5 result in the first set before dropping the second set 4-6. Then, much like Janse, Waterbolk stormed back as he would clinch the win with a 6-2 third set final.
Marnix Van Dalen was the next Eagle to finish as he wrapped up a successful start to his SAC season at number one singles. Leaving little doubt, the freshman would go out and win 6-2, 6-1 and officially clinch C-N its first SAC win of 2022.
The final two matches on Friday were only a one-set eight game format for Rintaro Oka and Lars Hordijk. Oka would play in number three singles as he took the 8-2 win while Hordijk completed the sweep with a 8-4 victory in number five singles.
Saturday's matinee against the Saints saw the Eagles stumble in number one doubles, but still maintain enough composure to take the overall doubles point after winning two of the three matches to start action.
Then in singles, the Eagles claimed all six matches, as number five would see a one-set eight game format.
C-N would go ahead 2-0 after Jankulovski won his number four singles match by a final of 6-4, 7-5. From there, Marc Janse would make it 3-0 for the Eagles as he won a three-set thriller over Limestone's Cardona. After dropping the first set 7-5, Janse responded nicely to take the second set by a 6-0 margin. Then, in the third and final set, it was Janse securing another win for C-N as he won 6-1.
The score moved ahead 4-0 for C-N after Ids Waterbolk would take another three-set thriller. Playing Limestone's B. Bourdon, it was the Saints taking the first set 6-4. Then, Waterbolk kicked it into high gear to respond with a 6-4 second set decision. Then, much like Janse, the junior would take the overall win with a 7-6 win in the third and final set.
Marnix Van Dalen was the next Eagle to finish as he wrapped up a successful start to his SAC season at number one singles. Leaving little doubt, the freshman would go out and win 6-3, 6-2 and officially clinch C-N its second straight SAC win of 2022.
Number three singles saw Oka play to a 6-0, 7-6 result as it would move to 6-0 in favor of C-N. Finally, Lars Hordijk played the lone eight game format as he won 8-5 at number five singles to make it 7-0 as the final.
SCOUTING NEWBERRY
The Eagles will look to make it two straight over the Wolves after taking last year's matchup finished 6-1 for C-N. This was the Eagles' first win over the Wolves since 2012 as they had dropped eight straight results prior to the 2021 victory.
In last year's meeting, C-N gained the doubles point after Rintaro Oka/Marc Janse along with Joshua Ott/Julian Froehlich took home victories in their respective matches.
Singles action was hot and dominated by C-N as well. Only one Eagle saw defeat in singles, as the Eagles claimed five victories with only one of those going to three sets. Janse took the only three-set result of the night by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 over Newberry.
In other singles action, Oka swept his match by scores of 6-2, 7-5. Waterbolk took his match by 6-3, 6-3 scores in both sets. The final Eagle who saw victory over the Wolves was Ott who won 6-2, 6-2 to make it 6-1 for the home team.
Newberry will come into Tuesday's match on a four-match losing streak including three consecutive conference losses to Tusculum, Coker, and Anderson. In the match against the Trojans, Anderson claimed the doubles point with wins in no. 3 and no. 2 doubles as Newberry took the victory in no. 1 doubles.
In singles, Anderson went ahead 3-0 after winning no. 3 and 6 singles, but Newberry got on the board as the number one singles result went their way. However, Anderson soon clinched the match with a win at no. 2 singles.
Prior to arriving in Mossy Creek, Coker would face Queens (N.C.) from the Queen City on Tuesday.
SCOUTING TENN. WESELYAN
The Eagles and Bulldogs squared off last year to open up the 2021 season as TWU defeated C-N 6-1.
Tennessee Wesleyan used the early doubles momentum to gain the 1-0 edge before never looking back and taking the victory. C-N pitted a talented triplet of doubles pairs, with Gabriel Dabdab and Ids Waterbolk coming the closest to an Eagle victory, falling 7-5 in the no 1 doubles spot.
Most notably in singles action, Waterbolk battled all three sets against his opponent, coming away with the 7-6, 6-2, 10-0 No. 4 singles victory. This was the lone victory for the Eagles and first for Waterbolk on the 2021 season.
So far in 2022, Tenn. Wesleyan has gone a perfect 10-0 including 3-0 in the AAC. Of their 10 wins, five of them have come via a clean sweep while the Bulldogs were also able to handle the reigning Division III national champions in Emory.
Tennessee Wesleyan, currently ranked no. 3 in NAIA, fell behind early to Emory before storming back to win five straight singles matches and handing the reigning DIII champion a 5-4 loss on their home courts.
Prior to hosting the Eagles, the Bulldogs most recently saw a pair of clean sweeps against the Bluefield Rams and SCAD Atlanta to bring their season win total to double digits as they look to remain a top-tier NAIA program.
Opening serve between C-N and the Wolves is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday from the Oakland Tennis Center while the Eagles and Bulldogs serve it up at 2:00 p.m. Friday from Athens.
"This will be a big week for our guys as we look to continue a strong start to conference before facing a top-10 NAIA team on the road," Frederick said. "I think this team can be strong and a week like this one will showcase what we can do"
Be sure to keep up with all things Carson-Newman men's tennis at cneagles.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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