By Dave Hunter (dhunter)

Sophomore David Jackson and freshman McKenzie Bean post singles wins.....

            Clarksville, Tenn., Feb. 2 – The Vincennes University tennis team made its season-debut Saturday afternoon, losing, 5-2, at NCAA Division I Austin-Peay in Clarksville, Tenn.

            “We were a little nervous, but played hard,” Trailblazer coach Ron Albers (591-143) said after beginning his 28^th season. “We weren’t able to sustain the energy level and the intensity much past the first set in most matches.”

            The Trailblazers picked up singles wins from sophomore David Jackson and Freshman McKenzie Bean.

            Jackson (Indianapolis Pike) who was a second-team all-American two years ago, defeated Patrick Puertolas, 6-2, 6-3, at third singles while Bean (Bermuda) won a 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(6) decision over Darren Tallent at No. 6.

            “David played really well, he brought it today,” Albers said. “It was a good way for McKenzie to start. He got down in the second set, but came back and played well during the tiebreak.”

            Freshman Justin Harlow (Tewantin, Australia) lost, 6-3, 6-1, to Lucas De Brito at No. 1 singles, sophomore Jaime Esteban (Barcelona, Spain), dropped a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 decision to Leonardo Locatelli at second singles, sophomore Binky Nikou (Greenwood, Ind., Central Grove), was beaten 7-6(5), 6-2 by Leandro Tolosa-Zenklusen at four and freshman Chris King (Barbados), lost, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(5) to Jay Wilkinson at No. 5.

            “Everybody but David had a let down in every second set,” Albers said. “We don’t have our match legs under us yet. We’ll get another match in tomorrow, but it’s something I’ll address that in the next three weeks.”

            The Governors who were playing their fourth match of the sesaon, won two of the three doubles matches to grab the first point of the day.

            Esteban and Jimmy Dunseith (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) lost, 8-3, to Wilkinson and Tallent, at third doubles, Harlow and Nikou were beaten, 9-8(5), at No. 1 before Jackson and King edged-out De Brito and Puertolas, 9-8(5) at two.

            “We came out in the doubles with a good level of intensity at one and two,” Albers said. “They were fired up to get their first match.”

            VU won three of four exhibition matches.

            Sophomore Chuck Hodge (Pickerington, Ohio, North) and freshman Tony Kanavos (Munster, Ind., HS) defeated Bret Shaw and Andrew Solarkski, 8-4, at doubles.

            Hodge also beat Solarski, 8-4, in singles while Kanavos topped Shaw, 6-2,.

            Sophomore Andrew Bartelmo (Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern) lost to Francisco La Puente, 8-2.

            “We’re not in shape and the freshmen have to get their teething done,” Albers said. “They see now the intensity that’s necessary to compete for every point which is the major difference from high school to college.”

            The Trailblazers play at Division I Murray State, Ky., Sunday morning.

Governors 5, Trailblazers 2
Singles
No. 1 – Lucas De Brito (AP) def. Justin Harlow, 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 - Leonardo Locatelli (AP) def. Jaime Esteban, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 – David Jackson (VU) def. Patrick Puertolas, 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 – Leandro Tolosa-Zenklusen (AP) def. Binky Nikou, 7-6(5), 6-2
No. 5 – Jay Wilkinson (AP) def. Chris King, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(5)
No. 6 – McKenzie Bean (VU) def. Darren Tallent, 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(6)
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5.