Men’s and women’s tennis have rough week
Posted by The Skyliner on April 15th, 2009Paul Conner
Staff Writer
The men’s tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision overall, 1-2 in doubles and 3-3 in singles, to Tusculum on a sun-soaked afternoon at the Greer Tennis Center last Saturday. The women’s team had a more difficult outing, falling 9-0 overall, 0-3 in doubles and 0-6 in singles, to Tusculum, who are ranked eighth overall in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association southeast region.
Trailing 1-2 entering singles play, North Greenville (3-9) came back to tie the game and had two chances to win the game, but Tusculum held on for the victory.
Jacob Rogers, senior Christian studies, and Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, fell 5-8 to Thomas Rees and Drew Kiser at number one doubles. Timur Kamilov, freshman undecided, and Gabriel Altmayer, senior international business, were defeated 4-8 against Leo Guaycurus and Henrique Rodrigues at number two. Guilherme Vasques, senior business administration, and William Ho, senior marketing/business administration, defeated Steven Lin and Hunter Beal 9-8, 7-2 at number three.
In number one singles competition, Kamilov lost the first set 5-8 to Rees but took the second set 6-4, forcing a tiebreaker, which he won 6-1.
Kamilov, a transfer student born in Uzbekistan who played a year at Lander (Greenwood, S.C.), has emerged as a top player on a Crusader team that is laden with seniors. Vasques has tabbed Kamilov for a strong finish to the season.
“He started the season slowly, but he’s playing some of his best tennis now,” Vasques said. “He’s in shape, and he’s ready to go.”
“He’s really picking it up,” added Altmayer.
Aguilera fell 4-6, 3-6 to Rodrigues at number two, but Altmayer topped Beal 6-3, 6-1. Ho defeated Guaycurus 6-0, 6-4 to give the Crusaders the lead overall. Vasques fell 6-7, 1-6 at number five to Lin, and Rogers fell 6-3, 2-6, 3-6 in the tiebreaker match against Kiser.
“I felt good after the doubles match, but not so much after the singles match,” Vasques said.
The Crusaders dropped their mid-week match 2-7 last Tuesday at Wingate.
North Greenville will take on Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Greer Tennis Center in their home finale.
The women’s team, which dropped a close 5-4 match against Wingate five days earlier. They struggled against a quality Tusculum side. Salem Erni, junior interdisciplinary studies, and Katherine Shaw, freshman undecided, fell 8-1 to Caroline Crowe and Katelyn Doss at number one doubles.
Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, and Cherie Curtis, senior elementary education, were defeated 8-5 by Amanda Pike and Jennifer Sparks. At number three doubles, Courtney Lynn, senior psychology, and Natalie Stewart fell 8-5 against Heidi von der Lage and Jessi Smith.
Erni fell 6-1, 6-2 to Jennifer Sparks at number one singles. Shaw fought from a 4-6 first set loss, winning 6-2 but falling 10-5 in the tiebreaker set. Pike handled Cherie Curtis, senior elementary education, 6-3, 6-4, and Lynn fell 6-2, 6-2 to von der Lage. Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, was defeated 7-6, 7-5 by Crowe, and Stephanie Tyrpak, senior broadcast media/Spanish, fell 6-1, 6-1 to Blake Thompson.
The Lady Crusaders (5-5) will face Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Greer Tennis Center.