ADRIAN, Mich. - The Trine University men’s tennis team picked up their first conference win of the season as they defeated Adrian College 6-3. The Thunder snap a three-game winless streak as they improve to 5-8 on the season and 1-2 in the MIAA.
The Thunder fell behind early as they dropped two of three doubles matches. The tandem of freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) took the lone win at the top position 8-1. The duo of sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta ) and senior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell by the same score at No. 2 doubles, 8-1. In the third match, the team of junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell 8-6.
In the singles matches, Trine made a comeback as they won five of six, three of which went three sets, and a fourth went to a tie-breaker. In the No. 2 match, Desper made quick work of his opponent 6-1, 6-0. At the fifth position, Richardson also won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. At the No. 1 position, Knust defeated Jordan Verbauwhede 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) defeated Alex Amos at the fourth position 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. The final win for Trine came at the sixth position as Ihrie took home a 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 win. Trine’s lone singles loss came in the third singles match, as Murray fell in a marathon match to Michael Mertz 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-4.
Trine will return to action on April 9 when they host Calvin for an MIAA match beginning at 4:00 p.m.