ALBION, Mich. - Trine University men’s tennis team dropped an important match at Albion College as they were unable to clinch a spot in the MIAA Tournament, falling by a score of 8-1. The Thunder are now 11-7 on the season and 2-3 in MIAA play.
The Thunder began the match outside with rain drops falling. All three doubles teams fell before the match was moved indoors. Junior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and freshman Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) had the closest match, falling at third doubles 8-6. Junior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and sophomore Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) dropped their first doubles match 8-3 and the second doubles team of junior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and freshman Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) dropped their match 8-1.
The match moved indoors for the singles matches where the Thunder could only muster one victory. Junior Dan Desper fought in a hard second singles match to win 7-6, 2-6, (10-5). Richardson was stuck in a close match at fifth singles but fell 6-4, 4-6, (11-9). Clark also played a tight match but lost at fourth singles 6-4, 6-3. Dunbar dropped his first singles match 6-0, 6-1. Murray fell at third singles 6-1, 6-0 and Derby also lost at sixth singles 6-1, 6-0.
Trine will need to defeat Hope on April 28 for a chance at making the conference tournament. The match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.