Mustangs slug out sweep in spring opening weekend

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Morningside's men's tennis team leapt into its spring schedule with a pair of wins against National Collegiate Athletic Association opponents as the Mustangs made easy work of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in an 8-1 win before slugging out a 5-4 win over Coe.

Deviating from the rules for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tennis, the NCAA rules award three points for doubles matches while the NAIA awards just one. This difference was apparent in both matches for the Mustangs as the Pointers claimed their lone point in doubles and the Kohawks swept doubles but couldn't hold on to the 3-0 advantage through the six singles matches.

Eduard Cardelus and Rodrigo Iraheta got Morningside started against UWSP, winning 8-3 in the no. 2 doubles slot. The Pointers took the no. 3 match, but Mikhil Raja and Christian Kelly were able to slam the door 8-5 and give Morningside an advantage as the teams transitioned to singles play. 

Santiago Minetti kept Morningside rolling in singles, winning 6-1, 6-2. Winyou Asavaruanguchai followed with a win at no. 4 singles, 7-6, 6-0, before Mark Trenkle sealed the win for the Mustangs, 6-3, 3-3.

Eduard Cardelus, Abhishek Mohapatra, and Joao Pedro Pierry Izoldi Costa grew Morningside's victory margin in the match, as they collected their singles wins. Cardelus won his opening set 6-0 and was up 1-0 when the second was retired. Mohapatra dropped his opener 4-6, but came back to win 6-4 and force the super tiebreaker, which he won 10-4. Costa wrapped up the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win.

The Mustangs had ground to make up as the Coe match moved to singles. Down 3-0, Trenkle was the first to score for Morningside, winning the no. 1 match 6-1, 6-1. Skander Ben Abdallah won 6-3, 6-0 in the no. 3 match, and Santiago Minetti brought the Mustangs even alongside their hosts with a 7-6, 6-4 victory courtesy of a 10-4 tiebreaker. 

Gustav Sjoberg gave Morningside the lead as he turned in a 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 match, narrowly coming back in dominant fashion after dropping his opening set in a 10-5 tiebreaker. 

Coe wouldn't let Morningside get out of town that easily, however, as the Kohawks took the no. 6 match to tie the contest again. 

As all eyes turned to Christian Kelly's match in the no. 5 slot, the freshman found himself behind, dropping the first set 6-4. He dug deep and shook it off, however, winning the second set 6-4, and clinching the team win courtesy of a 6-3 third set.

The Mustangs go quiet again until Feb. 23 when they'll face Ottawa at the First Serve Tennis Center at 1 p.m.

Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Doubles

1. Mikhil Raja/Christian Kelly def. Steven Benoy/Fred Diehl 8-5

2. Eduard Cardelus/Rodrigo Iraheta def. Conner Kryscio/Luca Hettstedt 8-3

3. Dominik Hendrickson/Hayden Schreier def. Chase Carter/Ben Zavadil 8-6

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles

1. Mark Trenkle def. Steven Benoy 6-3, 3-3 (retired)

2. Santiago Minetti def. Fred Diehl 6-1, 6-2

3. Abhishek Mohapatra def. Conner Cryscio 4-6, 6-4, 10-4

4. Winyou Asavaruanguchai def. Luca Hettstedt 7-5, 6-0

5. Eduard Cardelus def. Dominik Hendrickson 6-0, 1-0 (retired)

6. Joao Pedro Pierry Izoldi Costa def. Hayden Schreier 6-1, 6-1

Order of Finish 2, 4, 1, 5, 3, 6

Coe

Doubles

1. Ivan Burt-Smith/Jumpei Kasai def. Mark Trenkle/Gustav Sjoberg 8-2

2. Graham Peterson/Luke Doig def. Santiago Minetti/Skander Ben Abdallah 8-1

3. Grant Idoux/Bryton Short def. Abhishek Mohapatra/Winyou Asavaruanguchai 8-1

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

Singles

1. Mark Trenkle def. Graham Peterson 6-1, 6-1

2. Santiago Minetti def. Ivan Burt-Smith 7-6 (10-4), 6-4

3. Skander Ben Abdallah def. Grant Idoux 6-3, 6-0

4. Gustav Sjoberg def. Bryton Short 6-7 (5-10), 6-4, 6-3

5. Christian Kelly def. Jumpei Kasai 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

6. Alex Palomar def. Mikhil Raja 7-5, 6-2

Order of Finish 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5