Men's Tennis Slugs Out 4-3 Win over Bethel

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – The Mustangs picked up a non-conference win over Bethel College today, winning 4-3 as Morningside claimed the final match over the Threshers, who were receiving votes in the latest National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll.

Bethel claimed the advantage early, picking up the doubles point despite a 6-2 victory for Mathys Arnold and Jesse Gerth.

The Mustangs got even in singles, as Marcos Menendez Hervella won a 6-2, 7-6 victory with a 7-5 tiebreaker to pull even at 1-1. Mathys Arnold advanced Morningside's case with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 win at no. 3 singles, and Jesse Gerth kept Morningside's lead intact with a 6-3, 6-4 win. 

Bethel pulled even, winning the no. 2 and no. 4 match, as all eyes turned to the final match on the courts, the no. 6 pairing, featuring Gabriel Whiston for the Mustangs.

Whiston fell behind early, losing the first set 4-6. The freshman didn't fold under pressure, though, fighting back with a 6-3 win to force a tiebreaker set. Whiston rolled with the momentum that he had developed, taking the tiebreaker 6-1 to end the match as it reached the five and a half hour mark.

Morningside has an exhibition match scheduled for Wednesday before beginning conference play at Mount Marty on Saturday at noon.

DOUBLES

1. Petr Kollar/Zaidh Zihar  def. Marcos Menendez Hervella/Alexis Diaz 6-4

2. Billy Haoda/Jorge Batista def. Santiago Minetti/Gabriel Whiston 6-3

3. Mathys Arnold/Jesse Gerth def. Jonah Bergeron / Adam Tomka 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

SINGLES

1. Marcos Menendez Hervella def. Jorge Batista 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)

2. Petr Kollar def. Alexis Diaz 6-4, 5-7, 7-5

3. Mathys Arnold def. Billy Haoda 6-2, 6-4

4. Rodrigo Sanchez def. Santiago Minetti 7-5, 6-4

5. Jesse Gerth def. Zaidh Zihar 6-3, 6-4

6. Gabriel Whiston def. Adam Tomka 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

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