SeattleU Men?s Tennis Takes Two at Independent Tournament

The Seattle University men's tennis team was able to pull out a hard-fought match over North Carolina Central, 4-3, and then despite warm temperatures, the Redhawks immediately went on to defeat Winston-Salem State, 6-1, Friday at the National Independent Tournament hosted by Longwood University.

Senior Alex Montgomery (Seattle, Wash.) clinched the match against North Carolina Central for SeattleU, as he won the first set in number two singles over Alejandro Espitia before dropping the second set. The two players were even throughout the third set and, with everyone else on both teams watching, Montgomery pulled out the third set tiebreaker, 7-4, for the victory.

SeattleU earned the important doubles point as the number three doubles team of Patrick Boorkman (Bellevue, Wash.) and Simon Meske (Tacoma, Wash.) cruised past Bryan Jackson and Christopher Mack, 8-0. Mark Shkretbtan (Redmond, Wash.) and Yusuke Kanehira (Tokyo, Japan) had a tougher time in the number one doubles set against Jack Waissen and Trey Chatman, as they were pushed to a tiebreaker before winning it, 8-6, for the point.

In the number five singles position, Kanehira would have an easier time in his singles match, sweeping past Jackson without losing a game (6-0, 6-0), and Adam Strizich (Helena, Mont.) would have a similar result in defeating Mack in the number six singles position (6-0, 6-0). North Carolina Central came roaring back with three singles victories, as Waissen defeated Shkretbtan in straight sets, Jose Fabara won a first-set tiebreaker, 13-11, on his way to a straight-set victory over Jordan Prince (Hansville, Wash.), and Chatman recovered from losing the first set to post a three-set win over Boorkman.

Momentum seemed to carry SeattleU into the afternoon match against Winston-Salem State, as the Redhawks swept the doubles sets to take the early lead. Meske, Montgomery, Kanehira, Andrew Tran (Portland, Ore.), and Strizich would all win their singles contests in straight sets to clinch the SeattleU victory. Shkretbtan lost the first set, but came back and won the second set before falling in a super-tiebreaker.

Seattle University (7-15) will conclude the tournament Saturday, April 17, against host Longwood starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Seattle University 4, North Carolina Central 3

SINGLES

1. Jack Waissen (NCCU) def. Mark Shkretbtan (SU): 7-5, 6-0
2. Alex Montgomery (SU) def. Alejandro Espitia (NCCU): 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Trey Chatman (NCCU) def. Patrick Boorkman (SU): 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Jose Fabara (NCCU) def. Jordan Prince (SU): 7-6 (13-11), 6-4
5. Yusuke Kanehira (SU) def. Bryan Jackson (NCCU): 6-0, 6-0
6. Adam Strizich (SU) def. Christopher Mack (NCCU): 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES

1. Kanehira/Shkretbtan (SU) def. Waissen/Chatman (NCCU): 9-8 (8-6)
2. Fabara/Espitia (NCCU) def. Prince/Andrew Tran (SU): 8-3
3. Boorkman/Simon Meske (SU) def. Jackson/Mack (NCCU): 8-0

Seattle University 6, Winston-Salem State 1

SINGLES

1. Brian Coxton (WSSU) def. Mark Shkretbtan (SU): 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
2. Simon Meske (SU) def. Ian Hunter (WSSU): 6-0, 6-3
3. Alex Montgomery (SU) def. Troy Moore (WSSU): 6-1, 6-3
4. Yusuke Kanehira (SU) def. Joab Odera (WSSU): 6-2, 6-0
5. Andrew Tran (SU) def. Antentor Hinton (WSSU): 6-0, 6-0
6. Adam Strizich (SU) def. Mason King (WSSU): 6-0, 6-2

DOUBLES

1. Kanehira/Shkretbtan (SU) def. Coxton/Hunter (WSSU): 8-5
2. Patrick Boorkman/Meske (SU) def. Hinton/Odera (WSSU): 8-3
3. Tran/Jordan Prince (SU) def. King/Moore (WSSU): 8-1