By Dave Hunter (dhunter)
Blazers improve record to 25-4.....
Vincennes, Ind., - Apr. 21 – The fourth-ranked Vincennes University tennis team defeated visiting 14th -ranked NCAA Division III DePauw, 5-2, Monday afternoon in their final regular season home match. (Match Photo Gallery)
“We didn’t play exceptionally well today,” said VU coach Ron Albers. “We did in spots, but we just didn’t get a feel for the match. When we got in spots where we had to compete, we did.”
The Trailblazers (25-4) picked up the doubles point to start the match.
Sophomore David Jackson and freshman Chris King (18-2) defeated T.J. MacMaster and Cam Nash, 8-3, at second doubles and sophomore Jaime Esteban and freshman Tony Kanavos, got by Evan Hunter and Anil Patel, 8-6 at three.
DePauw tied the match one-all with a win at third singles, but the Blazers swept the next three matches with Jackson (18-4) getting the decisive point at first singles when he beat Scott Sandager, 6-2, 7-6(5)
Albers was impressed with wins by sophomores Jaime Esteban (17-7) and Binky Nikou (16-6) at second and fifth singles.
“Jaime’s opponent had a similar style, but Jaime hit a heavier ball,” Albers said. “Binky stepped up today and played the way he’s capable of.”
Defending national champion Laredo, Tex., is the top-ranked team in the spring poll followed by last season’s runner-up, Tyler, Tex. Collin County, Tex., which will host next month’s NJCAA Finals, is ranked third while Vincennes is fourth and Abraham-Baldwin, Ga., fifth.
The Trailblazers close out the regular season Thursday when they travel to Oakland City for a 3 p.m. (CST) match.
Vincennes 5; DePauw 2
Doubles
No. 1 – Will Gates-Scott Sandager (D) def. Justin Harlow-Binky Nikou, 8-5
No. 2 – David Jackson-King (V) def. T.J. MacMaster-Cameron Nash, 8-3
No. 3 – Jaime Esteban-Tony Kanavos (V) def. Evan Hunter-Anil Patel, 8-6
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
No. 1 – Jackson (V) def. Sandager, 6-2, 7-6(5)
No. 2 – Esteban (V) def. Hunter, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
No. 3 – Gates (D) def. Harlow, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 – Nash (D) def. King, 7-6(6), 6-1
No. 5 – Nikou (V) def. MacMaster, 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 – Jimmy Dunseith (V) def. Patel, 6-0, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 5, 6, 1, 4, 2
