Emporia State Falls to #9 Washburn in Men's Tennis Turnpike Tussle

April 24, 2024-Anton Sarunic picked up a win at #1 singles for Emporia State and three matches went to a third set but the Hornets fell 6-1 to #9 Washburn on Wednesday afternoon at the Kossover Family Tennis Center on the ESU Campus.
 
The Ichabods picked up wins at #3 and #2 doubles to take a 1-0 lead into singles play. The #1 match went unfinished with the Hornets Anton Sarunic and Sergio Vera Martin trailing 5-3 to #22 Tim Hammes and Mathew Earle
 
A win at #3 singles put Washburn up 2-0.  Diego Calvo won the first set at #4 singles before falling 3-6, 6-0, 6-0 to Tommy Cecchetti. In a battle of Top 50 players in NCAA Division II, 50th ranked Sarunic took care of #26 Sebastian Pjontek 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to pull Emporia State within 3-1.  The final three matches all went three sets. Emporia State's Mostafa Elbasnaly fell 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to #10 Tim Hammes at #2 singles as Washburn clinched the dual.  Hachem Fahem dropped a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7) decision to Matthew Earle while Harrison Brown went down 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 1-0 (13-11) in the final match of the day.
 
Emporia State will wrap up the season on April 28 when they travel to Southeastern Oklahoma for a non-conference dual.  First serve in Durant, Okla. is set for 11:00 a.m.
 
NOTES:
Due to the forecast of inclement weather, the Emporia State women's final home match against $41 Missouri Western has been postponed until Monday, April 29. First serve from the Kossover Family Tennis Center is set for 10:00 a.m.
With the loss the Emporia State men were eliminated from contention for the MIAA Tournament.