SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - The Trine men’s tennis team fell to nationally ranked Spring Arbor 9-0. The loss snaps the Thunder’s four match winning streak and are now 9-3 on the season.
The Thunder ran into a very good opponent as they lost every match to 28th ranked NAIA Spring Arbor. Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) lost the only close doubles match 8-6 to 19th ranked Thomas Calderone and Aaron Mayes. Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) and Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) lost at second doubles 8-0 in Trevor Derby’s first match back from his ankle injury. The third doubles team of Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell 8-2.
The singles matches looked much more promising for the Thunder but they were still unable to record any victories. Dunbar lost at first singles 6-4, 6-1 to 40th ranked David Darling. Desper tried to come back at second singles but ended up falling 6-3, 7-5. David Murray looked two set points in the eye but was unable to capitalize on either of them as he fell 7-5, 6-3. Freshman Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) lost a tough match at fourth singles 4-6, 7-6, (10-7). Ihrie fell at fifth singles 6-0, 6-1 and Richardson lost at sixth singles 6-1, 6-3.
The Thunder will open conference play as they travel to Alma College for a 1:00 p.m. match on March 31