Mustangs sweep way to GPAC title over Midland

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NEB. – Morningside's men's tennis team had the advantage as Midland came to town, holding the top spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference standings, but with sole possession of the team title on the line, the pressure was on. The Mustangs rose to the occasion, completing the conference circuit with a 7-0 victory, shutting out every GPAC opponent on the season to win their first team title.

Morningside got off to a strong start, pocketing the doubles point with wins by Santiago Minetti and Skander Ben Abdallah (6-2) and Winyou Asavaruangchai and Abhishek Mohapatra (7-5).

In singles play, Gustav Sjoberg was the first in the book, collecting a 6-2, 6-2 win. Minetti followed with a 6-1, 6-4 victory, and Mikhil Raja carried the team across the threshold with a matching 6-1, 6-4 win. 

With the team victory in the bag, Joao Pedro Pierry Izoldi Costa battled back from a 2-6 loss with wins of 6-2 and 6-1. Trenkle picked up 6-3 and 6-1 wins following a 4-6 loss, and Skander Ben Abdallah completed the sweep 4-6, 6-4, and 7-6 with a 7-4 tiebreaker. 

Doubles

1. Benjamin Starman/Joren Stevens def. Mark Trenkle/Gustav Sjoberg 6-4

2. Santiago Minetti/Skander Ben Abdallah def. Vitor Goncalves/Arthur Hernandes 6-2

3. Winyou Asavaruangchai/Abhishek Mohapatra def. Daniel Liebig/Boris Velasquez 7-5

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles

1. Mark Trenkle def. Benjamin Starman 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

2. Santiago Minetti def. Daniel Liebig 6-1, 6-4

3. Skander Ben Abdallah def. Joren Stevens 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)

4. Gustav Sjoberg def. Vitor Goncalves 6-2, 6-2

5. Mikhil Raja def. Nathen Bitzer 6-1, 6-4

6. Joao Pedro Pierry Izoldi Costa def. Arthur Hernandes 2-6, 6-2, 6-1

Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 6, 1, 3