Abilene, Texas - Trinity's third-ranked
men's tennis team earned a split against non-Division III
competition at the Abilene Christian University Indoors on
Saturday, beating host ACU 4-3 after falling to Tyler Junior
College earlier in the day.
The Tigers improved to 2-1 this season, as the team also blanked
Hardin-Simmons 9-0 in yesterday's 2015 home opener on the road.
Trinity dropped a 6-1 decision to Tyler to start the day,
then rallied with a 4-3 victory over Abilene Christian to finish
the weekend on a high note.
Trinity out-fought ACU for the doubles point to start the match
tonight, scoring a 6-4 win at line three of doubles to take the
early advantage. The Tigers carried the momentum straight
into singles, where the top three positions each grabbed tough
victories to clinch the match.
After Jordan Mayer and Aaron Skinner fell short to start
doubles, it was Adam Krull and Clayton Niess who sparked the Tiger
rally with a 6-4 win at line two. Charlie Curtis and Chas
Mayer then finished off the rally with a line three win by the same
score.
Krull nabbed Trinity's next point with his straight-set win at
the top line of singles. Skinner and Jordan Mayer then used
their doubles setback as motivation in singles, as the duo each
snagged three-set wins for the clinch.
At line three singles, Skinner split the first two sets 6-3 and
2-6, but found himself in a big hole in the third. Despite
trailing 2-5, he turned the tide in his match with a stellar
comeback to score a 7-5 win that put Trinity on the verge of
clinching. Jordan Mayer then finished off his rally after
giving up the first set 4-6. He won 7-6, 6-4 in the final two
to ensure the Tiger win.
Abilene Christian scored wins in the other three singles
matches, but the Tigers didn't go quietly. Niess was the only
one to fall in straight sets, and Chas Mayer nearly pulled off a
big comeback win at line six. He lost 5-7 in the first set,
then squeaked out a 7-6 win in the second. In the third,
though, Mayer was edged 11-9 for the win.
Trinity will make its home debut on Thursday, February 12,
hosting St. Edward's University at 4:00 p.m. The Tigers will
then face the University of Incarnate Word and Laredo Community
College on Saturday, February 14.
