by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Barton College upperclassmen Jake McCartney, Rafael Ruiz Velasco and Nick Genest all picked up wins in both singles and doubles in helping the Bulldogs edge Catawba College, 5-4, in their first dual match of the year Wednesday at the Barton Tennis Complex.
McCartney, a junior, joined Ruiz Velasco and Genest, both seniors, in straight-set singles victories at the top of the BC lineup. McCartney downed Jack Mordey, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1, Ruiz Velasco downed Lucas Miller, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2, and Genest beat Lucca Picca, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 3.
McCartney and Ruiz also joined forces to claim an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles over Miller and Mitchell McDonald, while Genest and fellow senior Daniel Radu recorded an 8-6 victory in the No. 2 doubles slot over Picca and Michael Patch. Radu nearly pulled off a singles win at No. 4 as well after leading 5-4 in the second set, but Patch fought back to win the frame and then claim the super-set tiebreaker, 11-9.
Catawba (1-2) took the No. 5 and No. 6 singles as well, giving up just one game along the way, and captured the No. 3 doubles matchup to account for its points.
Barton will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 1, when it hosts William Peace University in its only other dual match of the fall.
BARTON 5, CATAWBA 4
Singles
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Jack Mordey (CATM) 6-3, 6-3
2. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Lucas Miller (CATM) 6-4, 6-2
3. Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Lucca Picca (CATM) 6-2, 6-2
4. Michael Patch (CATM) def. Daniel Radu (BARTON) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (11-9)
5. Mitchell McDonald (CATM) def. McKennon Griffin (BARTON) 6-1, 6-0
6. Iago Montero Nunez (CATM) def. Beau Borg (BARTON) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Jake McCartney/Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Lucas Miller/Mitchell McDonald (CATM) 8-2
2. Nick Genest/Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Michael Patch/Lucca Picca (CATM) 8-6
3. Jack Mordey/Aaron Vanhorenbeck (CATM) def. McKennon Griffin/Robert Taylor (BARTON) 8-1
Records
Catawba 1-2
Barton 1-0
