LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The John Brown University men's tennis team fell in both contests, losing a 3-1 lead in a 4-3 setback to Baker (Kan.), before falling 6-1 to Missouri Valley on Saturday afternoon (March 15) at Genesis Health Clubs – South.
The Golden Eagles started strong in doubles play as sophomore Brady Dick and junior Spencer Keeter cruised to a 6-2 victory at the top flight, followed by sophomore Negad Ezzat and freshman Lucas Machado dominating their match, 6-1, at the second position to secure the doubles point. Baker (4-4) avoided the sweep when Carlos Alcala and Juan Manuel Avila edged sophomores Andrew Aylor and Grant Hinkle, 6-4, at the third slot.
Keeter maintained JBU's momentum, quickly dispatching Corvin Christ, 6-2, 6-2, at the second singles flight to double the Golden Eagles' advantage. The Wildcats responded when Avila handled Ezzat, 6-3, 6-1, at the top singles position, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Dick pushed John Brown closer to victory with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Arturo Nunez at the third slot, extending the lead to 3-1. However, the Golden Eagles couldn't secure the decisive fourth point as Baker mounted a comeback.
Immo Ferger defeated Machado, 6-2, 6-2, at the fourth flight, before River Flaska downed junior Hayes Stark, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 5 singles to level the match at 3-3.
The dual was decided at the sixth position, where Alcala completed Baker's comeback with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over freshman William Prochazka, sealing the 4-3 result.
Then later against the Vikings, the Golden Eagles (7-8) fell behind early when Missouri Valley (3-3) captured the doubles point with victories at the top two flights. The Vikings took the lead when Alvaro Ruiz and Marc Bueso edged Ezzat and Machado, 7-6 (7-3), at the second position. Alecson Deschamps and Alex Ballinger then secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Dick and Keeter at the first flight. The third doubles match went unfinished with the point already decided.
Missouri Valley quickly extended its advantage in singles play, with Ruiz defeating Keeter, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), at the second spot. Deschamps followed with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ezzat at the top flight to push the Vikings' lead to 3-0.
The match was clinched at the third spot, where Ballinger outlasted Dick, 6-3, 3-6, 10-4, securing the team victory for Missouri Valley. Bueso added another point with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Machado at the fourth flight, before Gui Silva completed the Vikings' run with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over freshman Prochazka at the sixth spot.
Stark provided the lone bright spot for John Brown, battling through a pair of tight sets to defeat Luca Stadtfeld, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, at the fifth position.
After an extended hiatus, the Golden Eagles return to action Friday afternoon (April 4) when they begin its only two-match homestand of the season, opening with Baker at 4 p.m. at the JBU Tennis Courts.
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