by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team had its four-game win streak ended with a 7-2 loss to non-conference opponent West Virginia Wesleyan College on Monday at the Barton Tennis Complex.
The Bobcats (5-1) are ranked 6th overall in the Atlantic Region and have won four of their first five matches to begin the spring while Barton (5-5) fell to .500 on the season.
Barton was able to lead early on in the match, taking two of three matches in doubles play. The duo of Rafael Ruiz Velasco and Jesus Gil earned an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles, while the tandem of Nick Genest and Yaxi Pintado won 8-4 in the No. 2 doubles position. The Bobcats earned a point with an 8-6 in at No. 3.
However, West Virginia Wesleyan won all five match in singles competition leading to the victory. Velasco, Genest, Gil and Pintado each took their respective match to three sets before falling at the top four singles positions. The Bobcats won at No. 5 and No.6 singles in straight sets to secure the win.
Barton travels to Shaw University on Friday, March 4 for a non-conference match in Raleigh, N.C. beginning at 1 p.m.
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN 7,BARTON 2
Singles:
1. Nathan Sabate (WVW) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
2. Ramon Rodriguez (WVW) def. Nick Genest (BARTON) 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
3. Jacobo Rendon (WVW) def. Jesus Gil (BARTON) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
4. Ferran Berga (WVW) def. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 3-6, 7-6, 6-1
5. Pedro Nassar (WVW) def. Daniel Radu (BARTON) 6-4, 6-0
6. Timothy Stephens (WVW) def. Robert Taylor (BARTON) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles:
1. Rafael Ruiz Velasco/Jesus Gil (BARTON) def. Ferran Berga/Nathan Sabate (WVW) 8-5
2. Nick Genest/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Pedro Nassar/Ramon Rodriguez (WVW) 8-4
3. Andre Fernandes/Jacobo Rendon (WVW) def. Daniel Radu/McKennon Griffin (BARTON) 8-6
Records:
West Virginia Wesleyan 5-1; Regional ranking #6
Barton 5-5
