by Cory Guinn
SALISBURY, N.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team earned its first win of the spring semester with a 5-4 victory over Catawba College on Wednesday afternoon.
The win was also the first career collegiate win for Barton's first-year head coach Matt Rowe since taking over the program in late September. BC is now 2-4 overall with the first win coming over the Indians in September.
Barton was ahead 2-1 over Catawba after the conclusion of doubles play, earning points in the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. Juniors Jake McCartney and Yaxi Pintado teamed up to win 8-4 at No. 2, while seniors Nick Genest and Daniel Radu earned an 8-5 victory in the No. 3 slot.
McCartney extended the BC lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Catawba's Jack Mordey at No. 1 singles before the Indians earned points at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles. Genest was able to win the first set 6-3 at No. 3 but eventually fell in a third-set super tiebreaker 10-5.
Pintado also went to a super tiebreaker defeating Mitchell McDonald, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7) at No. 5, leaving the two sides tied at 4-4 with one match still to be decided. Radu, playing as the team's No. 6 singles player, came from behind in the third super tiebreaker of the day and defeat Montero Nunez 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8) and give Barton the match win.
Barton begins Conference Carolinas play this weekend with trips to Erskine College and Emmanuel College on back-to-back days. BC and Erskine take to the court on Friday, February 19 in Due West, S.C. before the Bulldogs travel to Franklin Springs, Ga. on Saturday, February 20.
CATAWBA 9, BARTON 0
Singles:
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Jack Mordey (CATM) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lucas Miller (CATM) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 7-5, 6-2
3. Michael Patch (CATM) def. Nick Genest (BARTON) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Lucca Picca (CATM) def. Jesus Gil (BARTON) 6-1, 6-2
5. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Mitchell McDonald (CATM) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Iago Montero Nunez (CATM) 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8)
Doubles:
1. Jack Mordey/Mitchell McDonald (CATM) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco/Jesus Gil (BARTON) 8-5
2. Jake McCartney/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Michael Patch/Lucca Picca (CATM) 8-4
3. Nick Genest/Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Lucas Miller/Aaron Vanhorenbeck (CATM) 8-5
Records:
Catawba 4-5
Barton 2-4
