HUNTINGTON, Ind. - Trine University men’s tennis team dropped their match by a score of 8-1 to NAIA opponent Huntington University. The match was made up after the original contest was rained out on April 14. The wind was a major factor as the men lost a few very close matches. The Thunder are now 11-6 on the season.
For the doubles matches, the winds were howling as both teams took the courts. It was an especially tough time for the Trine doubles teams as they lost all three matches to the Foresters. Sophomore Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and junior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) put together the closest doubles match as they lost 8-6 in the second position. Junior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and sophomore Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) lost at first doubles 8-3 and the third doubles team of junior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and freshman Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) also lost 8-3.
The singles matches were very close for the Thunder but they only managed to get one victory. Richardson came through for Trine as he won at sixth singles 6-7, 6-4, (10-8). Ihrie went to a third set tie-breaker but lost at fifth singles 3-6, 6-2, (10-6). Freshman Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) also went to a third set tie-breaker and fell at fourth singles 6-3, 1-6, (10-8). Murray had a few set points at third singles but lost 7-5, 6-0. Desper lost at second singles 6-2, 6-1 and Dunbar faced a tough opponent at first singles and fell 6-0, 6-0.
Trine’s next match is an important one to decide the seeding for the MIAA conference tournament. They will travel to Albion for a 4:00 p.m. match on April 25.