By Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College men's tennis team completed a perfect weekend 3-0 with a 8-1 victory over Luther College (Iowa) Sunday, Feb. 23. The Hornets defeated Ohio Northern and Wabash yesterday (Feb. 22).
Kalamazoo won all three doubles flights in close matches. Senior Mike Korn and junior David DeSimone won defeated Torstein Jystad and Isaiah Mayerchak 9-7 at third doubles. Senior Alan Faber teamed up with freshman Branden Metzler to win second doubles 8-5 while senior Peter Rothstein and sophomore Robert Hudson won 8-4 at first doubles.
"First and second doubles were outstanding today," Kalamazoo Head Coach Mark Riley said. "The improvement of the doubles from the beginning of the weekend to now is striking."
After losing his singles match to Wabash yesterday evening, Hudson rebounded by defeating Matt Mellio 7-5, 6-1 at fourth singles. Metzler lost the first set 6-3 at first singles, but rebounded to win sets two and three by scores of 6-2, 6-3.
"Branden [Metzler] battled back to win his match," Riley said. "He showed why he is one of the best players in the region."
Metzler's win clinched the fifth point for Kalamazoo and the match. The Hornets needed another comeback in the next flight off the court, third singles. Korn lost the first set 6-2, but surrendered just two games in the next two sets winning 6-1, 6-1.
Kalamazoo won yet another three-set match at second singles. Rothstein defeated Jystad 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1. At sixth singles, freshman Spencer Navarre won 6-3, 6-3.
Luther's lone match point came at fifth singles when James Ayer defeated DeSimone 3-6, 7-5, (10-5).
Kalamazoo improves to 3-2 on the season with the win. The Hornets return to action Mar. 1 for a 1:00 p.m. match at Denison (Ohio).