by Cory Guinn
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Barton College men's team secured a 5-4 win over Division III opponent N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at the Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center.
N.C. Wesleyan, ranked No. 33 nationally in Division III, was ahead early following identical 8-6 wins at No.1 and No. 2 doubles. Barton earned a point with a 9-7 victory at No. 3 by the senior duo of Nick Genest and Daniel Radu.
Radu made quick work of his opponent at No. 6 singles, winning 6-0, 6-2 to tie the match before Wesleyan won at No. 4 and No. 2 singles to retake the lead. Junior Jake McCartney secured a 6-4, 7-5 decision at No. 1 singles, followed by a 7-6, 7-6 win from fellow junior Yaxi Pintado at the No. 5 singles position.
With the match tied at 4-4, Genest saved seven match points at No. 3 singles to escape with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 win to give Barton the match victory.
Barton hosts in-state rival University of Mount Olive on Tuesday, March 22 in a match scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
BARTON 5, N.C. WESLEYAN 4
Singles:
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Sebastian Sikh (NCWM) 6-4, 7-5
2. Ioannis Brokakis (NCWM) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 6-4, 7-5
3. Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Mark Sokolov (NCWM) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
4. J.D. Telles (NCWM) def. Jesus Gil (BARTON) 6-4, 6-3
5. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Mikhail Konnov (NCWM) 7-6, 7-6
6. Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Eduardo Ugalde (NCWM) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Sebastian Sikh/Peter Hviid (NCWM) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco/Jesus Gil (BARTON) 8-6
2. J.D. Telles/Mikhail Konnov (NCWM) def. Jake McCartney/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 8-6
3. Nick Genest/Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Ioannis Brokakis/Mark Sokolov (NCWM) 9-7
Records:
Barton 8-7
N.C. Wesleyan 6-6; National ranking #33; Regional ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,2,1,5,3)
