ANDERSON, S.C. - After being away from the courts for two weeks due to the inclement weather in the Upstate, Anderson University men's and women's tennis returns to action on Saturday when they host South Atlantic Conference opponent Mars Hill. The first serves for both matches are scheduled for 1 p.m. from the Max Grubbs Memorial Courts.
AU Men Look to Remain Perfect In Conference
Play
The Trojans come into the weekend with a 4-1 overall record with a
2-0 mark in league play, capturing wins over conference rivals
Coker and Catawba earlier this month. AU's lone setback on the
season came against nonconference opponent and nationally-ranked
Columbus State on Feb. 12, when it fell 9-0 for the first time
since the 2013 spring season.
In doubles, the tandems of Nicolas Ascarrunz and Paul Michael Calhoun join Inaki Iriberry and Alex Wallace for the most wins on the team, as each pair has three wins apiece. Against Catawba, head coach Joey Eskridge sent out three new doubles teams, as Ascarrunz teamed up with sophomore Juan Carracedo and notched an 8-3 win at No. 1, while sophomore Mateo Rivas matched up with Harrison Kansol and recorded an 8-5 triumph at the No. 2 position.
In singles, Anderson picked up straight-set wins in five of the six singles positions, headlined by Carracedo's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Catawba's Jack Mordey at the No. 2 slot.
AU Women Unbeaten in Conference Play
Similar to the men's squad, the Trojan women's team is a perfect
2-0 in the SAC with a 6-3 win over Coker and an 8-1 triumph over
Catawba. Just like the men's team, Anderson's lone setback on the
season came against nationally-ranked Columbus State on Feb. 12,
when it was blanked by the Cougars, 9-0.
For the doubles round, the team of Mairead Cleary and Lindsay Gregory has shined throughout the season as they come into the weekend with a 5-1 record, including a 3-0 mark at the No. 1 position. As a team, the Trojans are 13-5 in doubles matches this season.
In singles, sophomore Rebecca Bruning and junior Alexandra Ebner are currently tied for the team-lead in victories on the season, as the tandem carry identical 5-1 records on the season. Bruning is a perfect 3-0 at the No. 1 position, while Ebner boasts a 3-0 mark while playing at the No. 4 position. Teammates Cleary and Gregory follow the duo with four singles wins apiece.
The Lions
The men's and women's teams come into the weekend with identical
1-3 overall spring records, as both clubs are seeking their first
conference win after falling to Newberry and Wingate to open their
league schedules.
On the men's side, the MHU suffered a 5-4 setback to Newberry on Feb. 14, while following the loss with a 6-3 defeat to Wingate on Feb. 21. Headlining the men's roster is Euquerio Guerrero who holds a 5-2 mark while playing at No. 1 this season.
The women's team dropped to Newberry, 7-2, and eventually suffered a loss to Wingate, 8-1, last weekend. The tandem of Jasha Geerdink and Samantha Echevarria have four victories apiece on the young season, as Echevarria is unbeaten with a 4-0 record, with two wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
The Series
Both the AU men's and women's tennis teams are unbeaten against
Mars Hill since the Trojans joined the SAC prior to the start of
the 2011 spring seasons.
