Belmont Abbey Men's Tennis team fell short this afternoon by a score of 7-2 to visiting Anderson University.
Sophomore Juan Baez and Senior Conner McMann competed well at number one singles, knocking off the #23rd ranked duo in the nation from Anderson by the score of 8-6. James Delaney and Eduardo Escobar played a tight up and down match as well, eventually falling 8-6 at #2 doubles. Junior Nik Reddy and Senior Damien Nelson fell behind early, but managed to fight their way to an 8-3 loss at #3 doubles.
At #1 singles, McMann outlasted pre-season All-SAC first team member Juan Carracedo in what was a physical first two sets. McMann capitalized on a break in the first set, taking it 6-4, then surrendered the second set to Carracedo 6-3. In the third and final set, McMann once again found his game and worked his way to a decisive 6-0 victory in the clinching set.
At #2 singles, Baez and Rivas tangled in one of the most intense and competitive matches of the day. Baez had a set point in the first set, but Rivas elevated his game and took the first set tie-breaker 7-6(7-5). Baez responded with a focused second set resulting in a 6-2 victory. The tie-breaker for the third set was won by Rivas by the score of 10-8.
#3 singles was also a battle as James Delaney, playing in his first collegiate match, battled Nico Ascarrunz, a transfer from Division I Radford University. Delaney dropped the first set 6-2, then returned to form winning the second set 6-1. In the end, it was Ascarrunz that closed out the match with a tight victory in the third by the score of 6-4.
Anderson swept #4-6 singles in straight sets, although the Crusaders did not go down without a fight. Eduardo Escobar fell to pre-season All-SAC honoree Paul Michael Calhoun 6-2, 6-0 at #4, while Nelson was defeated by Wallace at #6. At #5 Nikhil Reddy put up a good effort, but eventually his opponent Irriberri was too much defeating him by the scores of 6-3 and 6-3.
The Crusaders look forward to their next test against the Limestone Saints on Tuesday afternoon at home at 2 p.m. at the Mike and Bonnie Reidy Tennis Center.
