Men's Tennis Nearly Sweeps Ohio Wesleyan
For the second time in its last three matches, a third-set
tiebreaker was the only thing that kept the College of Wooster men's tennis
team from recording a sweep, but instead Wooster settled for a 6-1 win over
visiting Ohio Wesleyan University on Tuesday afternoon (April 3).
For the most part, the Scots had an easy time of it, winning five
singles matches in straight-sets and the doubles point, but senior Matt
Bierlein's narrow 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Matt Kane at No. 3 singles
gave Ohio Wesleyan a point.
It was eerily similar to Wooster's 6-1 victory over Ohio Northern
University just six days ago when everybody won in straight-sets except for
the Scots' top player - freshman Nilesh Saldanha. This time, Saldanha
ousted his opponent with ease 6-1, 6-0 to improve his record at No. 1
singles to 4-5.
At the remaining singles positions, junior Jake Sintich improved to
3-1 on the year at the No. 2 position with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) decision,
sophomore Brandon Lichtman posted a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4, senior Nikhil
Padival was victorious 6-3, 6-1 at No. 5, and freshman Marc Patterson
earned a default decision in his favor after his opponent retired when down
6-0, 1-0 at No. 6.
In doubles play, Bierlein and senior partner Kirk Lapham lost a
tight match at the top flight to the Battling Bishops' Craig Pearson and
Rob Hays (9-7). But, the Scots rebounded to easily take No. 2 and No. 3
doubles with Lichtman and Saldanha winning 8-2 in the second position and
Padival and sophomore Clint Bailey taking the third spot 8-2 as well.
Wooster will now take its 4-5 record to the annual Great Lakes
Colleges Association Tournament on the campus of Wabash College in
Crawfordsville, Ind., this weekend (April 6-7).
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