Men's Tennis Win Streak Snapped at Home

MACON, Ga. – Mercer University’s men’s tennis team had its two-match win streak snapped with a loss to in-state rival Georgia Southern University, 4-3, at the Leroy Peddy Tennis Center. The Bears are now 3-4 overall.

In what has become a tremendous rivalry over the years, the MU-GSU match came down to the final match left on the courts at No. 4 singles between the Eagles Matthijas Verdam and Mercer’s Evandro Rosindo.

The Bears won the team point in doubles by taking two of the three matches (Nos. 2 and 3).  As matches came off the courts, the team score went back and forth. GSU took the Nos. 1-3 singles bouts and the Bears won Nos. 5 and 6 singles for a 3-3 team score while No 4 singles was still in progress.

While the other five singles matches were all decided in straight sets, Verdam and Rosindo locked horns, splitting sets. Verdan won a 7-6 marathon in the first set (8-2 in the tiebreaker), but Rosindo slugged back to win set two by a 6-2 score.  In the deciding third set, Verdam would eventually prevail, 7-5, to give the Eagles the match.

Also picking up wins in singles play were Guilherme Frias at No. 5, improving his personal record to 6-1. David Barton won at No. 6, upping his record to 4-2 on the year.

Barton and Pierre Tafelski won at No. 2 doubles, while Fernando Armendaris and Frias were victorious at No. 3 doubles.