Seattle University men’s tennis (6-12) earned the doubles point, nearly sweeping the three doubles matches, but could not hold on to the lead as they fell, 4-3, to Grand Canyon (8-4).
“We came ready to play and played with so much courage and belief,” said assistant coach Mark Hooper. “It was good to see the team grow as people and competitors today. They played hard every point and never gave an inch; we will learn from this.”
Will Topp (Olympia, Wash.) and Zach Kosanke (Bellevue, Wash.) earned a win at No. 2 doubles to open the contest before Riley Newman (Whidbey Island, Wash.) and Connor Leahy (Portland, Ore.) sealed the doubles point for the Redhawks at No. 3 doubles. SU narrowly lost the No. 1 doubles match as Grand Canyon avoided the doubles sweep.
The Lopes tied the match before taking the lead, 3-1, with the first three singles wins. Newman narrowed the deficit at No. 5 singles with a win and Topp narrowed the deficit once again at No. 2 singles to finish the match, but Adrian Legarreta clinched the victory for Grand Canyon at No. 3 singles.
SU faces Southern Utah on Monday, Mar. 24 at 10 a.m. The Redhawks are one win away from tying their season high wins (seven wins in 2009-10) since the rebirth of the program.
Doubles
No. 1 – Ahmad Saleem/Felix Schueller (GCU) def. Kevin Lynch/Jason Bediones (SU), 7-8
No. 2 – Will Topp/Zach Kosanke (SU) def. Benjamin Collomb/Alexander Roggenkamp (GCU), 8-5
No. 3 – Riley Newman/Connor Leahy (SU) def. Meidy Chazeau/Jacob Spizman (GCU), 8-7
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
Singles
No. 1 – Nicolas Moulin (GCU) def. Kevin Lynch (SU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 – Will Topp (SU) vs. Ahmad Saleem (GCU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 – Adrian Legarreta (GCU) def. Zach Kosanke (SU), 6-2, 7-6
No. 4 – Felix Schueller (GCU) def. Ian Clare (SU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 – Riley Newman (SU) def. Benjamin Collomb (GCU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 – Alexander Roggenkamp (GCU) def. Connor Leahy (SU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1,6,4,5,3,2