GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite a strong start in double plays, the Guilford College men's tennis team (5-7, 3-3 ODAC) couldn't hold off a deep Pfeiffer University (10-5, 1-2 USAS) lineup, falling 5-2 in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at the Dorothy Ragsdale McMichael '37 Centennial Class Courts
The Quakers came out firing in doubles, claiming two of the three matchups to secure the early point. At the top spot,
Andres Mercedes (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and
Brandon Hermes (West Hartford, Conn.) looked locked in from the first serve, cruising to a 6-1 victory over Pfeiffer's Benedikt Pfeiffer and Mathius Dessureau. On court three,
Rylan Tuten (Asheville, N.C.) and
Emmanuel Oye (Clayton, N.C.) delivered another strong performance, downing Laurin Rauer and Bogdan Stan 6-2. However, the Falcons snatched a win at No. 2, where
Evan Wong (Greensboro, N.C.) and
Henry Austin (Winterville, N.C.) dropped a 6-2 contest to A. Mukhambetov and Jayden Wellman.
Carrying a 1-0 lead into singles play, Guilford looked to build on its momentum, but Pfeiffer had other plans. Mercedes remained a bright spot at No. 1, turning in a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win over Benedikt Pfeiffer to give Guilford its second and final point of the afternoon. From there, the Falcons took control. Hermes battled hard at No. 2 singles, forcing a third-set super tiebreak but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-6 to Dessureau. Austin dropped a competitive three-set match on court three, falling 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to Wellman. Tuten opened strong at No. 4, taking the first set 6-2, but Mukhambetov stormed back to win the next two, 6-4, 6-2. At No. 5, Oye struggled to find rhythm in a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Stan, while
Turner Johnson (Oak Ridge, N.C.) dropped a 7-5, 6-1 decision to Justin Giesbrecht on court six.
With the loss, the men's tennis team will look to bounce back quickly as they continue their final stretch of games. Guilford returns to action on Friday, April 12, when they host Division I opponent North Carolina Central University. First serve is set for 3 P.M. at the McMichael Courts.
#GoQuakes
