February 24, 2019-Emporia State tennis opened their spring season with a pair of wins over McKendree on Saturday afternoon at the Woodside Tennis Club in Westwood, Kan. Due to playing inside, both matches were played to clinch with the women winning 4-0 while the men had to come from behind for a 4-3 victory. This year NCAA Division II tennis is combining doubles pay into one point in the team scoring.
With only four courts available, the singles matches were played first for both squads. The women played first and made short work of the Bearcats, who only had four players. Silvana Caceres started things with a 6-0, 6-1 win at #4 singles, Viktoria Mackova won 6-3, 6-1 at #2, and Jessica Purdy won 6-1, 6-3 at #3 to give the Hornets a 4-0 victory. Camila Ramos was leading 6-1, 6-6 at #1 singles when the match was clinched while Karen Santiago and Shannen Meyer did not take the court.
The men's teams spit their singles play. Charles Gortzounian won 6-3, 6-3 at #1 singles, Oliver Dixon won 7-6, 6-2 at #3 and Taylor Nelson picked up a 7-6, 5-7, 6-3 win at #4 singles. Gerard Pont fell 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 at #2 singles Luiz Maia lost 7-6, 6-1 at #5 and Lukas Winkler dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision at #6 singles. Nelson and Gortzounian won 6-2 at #2 doubles while Pont and Dixon fell 6-3 at #1 to square the match at 3-3. Anton Levanovich and Maia were down 4-2 in the deciding set of #3 doubles before winning the final four games for the 6-4 victory to clinch the win.
Both teams are scheduled to play at William Jewell on Tuesday. First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. in Liberty, Mo.
Men
Emporia State 4, McKendree 3
SINGLES
1. Charles Gortzounian (ESU) def. Alywin Mushonga (McKendree) 6-3 6-3
2. Gerard Pont (ESU) lost to Johnny Hu (McKendree) 6-2 6-7 3-6
3. Oliver Dixon (ESU) def. Nick de Guzman (McKendree) 7-6 6-2
4. Taylor Nelson (ESU) def. Kyle Aubrey (McKendree) 7-6 5-7 6-3
5. Luiz Maia (ESU) lost to Kayser Khan (McKendree) 6-7 1-6
6. Lukas Winkler (ESU) lost to Vishnu Prasad (McKendree) 4-6 1-6
DOUBLES
1. Pont/Dixon (ESU) lost to De Guzman/Mushonga (McKendree) 3-6
2. Nelson/Gortzounian (ESU) def. Hu/McCafferty(McKendree) 6-2
3. Levanovich/Maia (ESU) def. Khan/Aubrey 6-4 (McKendree)
(dual clinching point after coming back from 2-4 down)
Women
Emporia State 4, McKendree 0
1. Camila Ramos (ESU) vs. Bermudez 6-1 6-6 (McKendree) unfinished
2. Viktoria Mackova (ESU) def. Uzcategui (McKendree) 6-3 6-1
3. Jessica Purdy (ESU) def. Molinari (McKendree) 6-1 6-3
4. Silvana Caceres (ESU) def. Waguespack (McKendree) 6-0 6-1
5. Karen Santiago (ESU) vs. Tinnin 4-0 (McKendree) unfinished
6. Shannen Meyer (ESU) won by forfeit (lack of players)
DOUBLES were not played.
