WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- The Trine men's tennis team opened the season with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Grace College in non-conference action Tuesday evening.
The outcome of the match remained in doubt until the conclusion of the final match of the day at No. 6 singles. Colin Couch (Batavia, Ohio / Glen Este) took the first set from Lucas Fonseca, but Fonseca fought back from a big deficit in the second to force the tiebreaker. Couch had to fight through an injury timeout, but was able to prevail in a marathon of a tiebreak by a 14-12 final.
The win was the first of head coach Erin Kolar's tenure as men's tennis coach at Trine. Kolar also serves as the head women's tennis coach. Kolar credited the team's ability to stay mentally tough and play together for the successful effort.
Spenser Gilbert (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart Memorial) marked his return to the Thunder lineup with a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the No. 1 court. The match was the senior's first since the 2014-15 campaign. Today's performance was Gilbert's first career effort in the top singles flight.
Garrett Baysinger (Brazil, Ind. / Rockville) and Judson Quinn (Russiaville, Ind. / Western) also earned singles victories for Trine. Baysinger won by 6-2, 6-4 scores, while Quinn claimed his victory 6-3, 6-2.
Quinn also had a hand in Trine's doubles victory, as he paired with Victor Flynn (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South) in a hard-fought victory in the No. 1 flight. The duo's experience as a pairing paid off as they were able to eke out a 9-8 win, including 7-0 in the tiebreaker. Flynn and Quinn have now won a dozen matches as a pairing in their careers.
The Thunder will play its inaugural match in Ryan Tennis Center this Saturday, Sep. 10. Trine will face Wittenberg at noon.