by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-The freshman trio of Rafael Ruiz Velasco, Daniel Radu and Mihnea Tomos all won their singles and doubles matches to propel the Barton College men's tennis team to a 6-3 Conference Carolinas triumph over visiting Lees-McRae College on Saturday afternoon at the Barton Tennis Complex.
The Bulldogs returned to full lineup after recovering from injury and ended a four-match losing streak. Barton improved to 5-8 overall and 3-5 in the league.
The doubles pairs of Velasco-Radu (2-0) and sophomore Max Leppert-Tomos (1-0) both won to provide Barton a 2-1 advantage. Velasco and Radu posted an 8-5 success and Leppert and Tomos dominated 8-0.
Velasco picked up a straight-set victory in the marquee singles match to help ensure the Bulldogs success. Velasco (9-4) recorded matching 6-3 scores in his two sets to earn his team-best ninth singles win.
Radu (6-5) had the Bulldogs easiest conquest in the fifth flight only losing one game cruising to a score of 6-0, 6-1. Tomos (4-8) gutted out the most difficult of BC's six wins at No. 6 needing to win a tiebreaker before coming out on top 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Freshman Nick Genest (6-6) moved back to .500 by disposing of his third flight foe 6-3, 6-1. Sophomore Jorge Pradilla won his first set but was unable to sustain his lead in a 1-6, 7-5, 10-8 loss at No. 4. Leppert lost his first singles showdown in three matches after injury at No. 2 by a mark of 6-4, 6-4.
Barton will next step out of league and region play and visit NCAA Division I East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
