LINDSBORG, Kan. -- The John Brown University men's tennis team picked up two singles wins but was unable to overcome a slow start in doubles, falling 5-2 to Bethany (Kan.) on Friday afternoon (Feb. 28) at the Dr. Emory Lindquist Tennis Center.
"It was a tough loss for the men today against a very good Bethany team," admitted head coach Mike Campbell. "Overall, we played very well with multiple tiebreakers and two three-setters that did not go our way this evening, but we saw some really good tennis from this team. We're excited to play Bethany again next weekend for a rematch and hopefully get the win."
Bethany (1-0) claimed the doubles point with three consecutive wins. At the top spot, senior Francisco Bravo and junior Martin Priban defeated junior Spencer Keeter and sophomore Brady Dick 6-3. At the second slot, sophomore Negad Ezzat and freshman Lucas Machado fell 6-1 to Zeke Mumford and Dylan Gwilt, clinching the doubles point for Bethany. The Swedes completed the sweep at the third spot, where junior Jonathan Hillock and sophomore Andrew Aylor battled into a tiebreak but ultimately fell 7-6 (7-5) to Alejandro Rico Moran and Carlos Manuel Rodriguez.
John Brown (4-4) picked up its first point of the match at the third singles flight, where Keeter secured a straight-sets victory over Gwilt, 6-1, 6-3 to improve to a team-best 7-1 in singles action. Bethany responded at the top spot, where Bravo edged out Ezzat in a third-set super tiebreak, 6-4, 5-7, 10-7. At the second slot, Mumford extended Bethany's lead by outlasting Dick in a second-set tiebreak, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
Bethany clinched the match at the fourth flight, where Daniel Lozano Machado survived Lucas Machado in a three-set battle, 6-3, 0-6, 10-7. Hillock, now 5-2 this season, earned John Brown's second point at the sixth slot with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rico Moran. The match concluded at the fifth flight, where Pedro Melo edged out junior Hayes Stark in another super tiebreak, 7-5, 2-6, 10-8.
John Brown now continues its road trip, traveling to Ottawa, Kan., on Saturday (March 1) to face Ottawa at the Forest Park Tennis Courts. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.
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