Tiger Men's Tennis Prepares for a Busy Three-Match Weekend
The Trinity University Men's Tennis team secured a solid 5-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory on the road against the Southwestern University Pirates at the Marvin D. Henderson Sr. Tennis Courts.
Last Time
The Tigers got off to a roaring start in the doubles, showcasing their intent from the very first serve. First to finish was the dynamic pairing of
Jared Perry (Tucson, Ariz. / Catalina Foothills) and
Conor Kaczmarczyk (Aurora, Colo. / Regis Jesuit) at #3, who completely dominated their opponents to secure a clinical 6-0 victory and give Trinity the early advantage. Next to follow was the reliable top duo of
Rocco Mendez (Las Vegas, Nev. / Odyssey Charter School) and
Kishan Kersten (Plano, Texas / West), who powered their way to a 6-2 win at #1 doubles, and in doing so, clinched the doubles point for the Tigers. To wrap up a perfect doubles sweep, the partnership of
Aashish Dhanani (Austin, Texas / Westwood) and
Eric Liao (Taipei, Taiwan / Boca Prep) fought through a tight battle at #2, emerging victorious in a nail-biting tiebreak 7-6 (8-6).
With momentum firmly on their side, Trinity carried their strong form into singles play. Liao at #6 was first off the court, delivering a commanding performance with a 6-3, 6-0 win to double Trinity's lead. Mendez then extended the advantage at #2, battling hard to take the first set 7-5 before comfortably closing out the second 6-3, and bringing Trinity within one point of sealing the match. It was then left up to Kersten at #4 to deliver the win for the Tigers, as he edged both sets with steely determination, 7-5, 7-5, to hand the vital fourth point to the Tigers.
Southwestern managed to claw back a point as
Ryan Warren (Keller, Texas / Connection Academy) at #3 fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Jared Perry at #1 then fought valiantly, especially in a tense second-set tiebreak, but ultimately came up short, losing 6-2, 7-6 (10-8), handing the Pirates yet another consolation point. The final match of a successful afternoon was played out by Dhanani at #5. This proved to be the most thrilling encounter of the day, as Dhanani edged the first set 7-5, dropped the second 6-3, but dug deep in the deciding match tiebreak to prevail 10-8.
Preview - Three More at Home
The Tigers are set to close out their 2025 spring season with a trio of home matches. They will host Emory University on Friday, April 18, at 11 a.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader featuring Pomona-Pitzer at 10 a.m. and Colorado College at 3 p.m.
On the No. 9 Emory Eagles: The Eagles are 11-3 this year, with notable wins coming against No. 13 Swarthmore 4-1, No. 14 Johns Hopkins 5-2, and No. 20 Carnegie Mellon 6-1. The Eagles have suffered three defeats this season, including No. 3 Denison 2-5, No. 8 Rensselaer 3-4, and Florida Southern College 3-4 (Division 2). The Eagles will look to sophomore Efe Comu to get on the board. Comu is 6-5 in singles as well as in doubles, with his most notable singles victories coming against No. 13 Swarthmore 6-4, 6-3, No. 14 Johns Hopkins 6-4, 6-2, and No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus 6-2, 6-3. His most notable defeats have come at the hands of No. 3 Denison 3-6, 2-6, No. 7 Carnegie Mellon 7-6, 4-6, 7-10, and No. 8 Rensselaer 6-4, 5-7, 5-7. The Tigers will look to finish the regular season off strong as they take on the Eagles Friday, April 18, at 11 a.m.
On the No. 16 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens: The Sagehens are 12-8 so far this year with wins against No. 12 Middlebury 5-2, No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus, and No. 31 Sewanee 5-1. The Sagehens most notable defeats this season have come at the hands of San Diego State 2-5 (Division 1). Azusa Pacific 3-4 (Division 2), No. 2 Tufts 1-6, No. 1 University of Chicago 3-4, and No. 21 Christopher Newport 3-4. They will look to standout freshman Drew Goldman to lead the way. Goldman is 11-2 in singles and 10-6 in doubles. Goldman has defeated his opponent from San Diego State 6-4, 6-2 (Division 1), Azusa Pacific 6-3, 4-6, 11-9 (Division 2), No. 2 Tufts 7-6 (11-9), University of Chicago 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, and No. 10 Amherst 6-4, 6-4. Goldman's only two defeats this season have been retirement defeats against No. 21 Williams College after he split the first two sets 7-5, 4-6 and against No. 23 CalTech where he was down 0-4 in the first set. Goldman is 7-3 in singles and 6-3 in doubles. Trinity was defeated by the Sagehens 2-5 away from home earlier this season, however the Tigers all-time record against the Sagehens is a positive 8-5. The Tigers' will look to avenge their mid-season defeat against Pomona, this time at home, as the Sagehens will travel to Texas to face off at
Butch Newman Tennis Center on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m.
On the No. 61 Colorado College Tigers: The Tigers are 4-9 this season with notable wins coming against MSU Denver 5-2 (Division 2), UC Santa Cruz 5-2, and California Lutheran 5-2. The Tigers have suffered nine defeats this season, losing most notably to No. 16 Pomona Pitzer 1-6, Marist College 1-4 (Division 1), Barton 2-5 (JUCO), and Colorado Mesa University 1-6 (Division 2). The Tigers will look to senior Aiden Little to get on the board. Little holds an even 6-6 in singles and 0-2 in doubles, with his most notable singles victories coming against Colorado Mesa University 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 1-0 (10-7) (Division 2), MSU Denver 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) (Division 2), and Barton 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 (JUCO). His most notable defeats have come at the hands of No. 16 Pomona Pitzer 3-6, 3-6 and Marist College 6-2, 4-6, 8-10. (Division 1). Trinity defeated the Tigers 7-2 in the 2023-2024 season. Trinity holds an undefeated 11-0 all-time record against Colorado College. The Trinity Tigers will look to end their regular season off on a high note as they host the Colorado Tigers at
Butch Newman Tennis Center on Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m. May the best Tiger win.
Looking Ahead:
The Tigers will head to Waco, TX, to compete in the Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference championships, set to take place from April 25-27.
