The Houghton University Men's & Women's Tennis Program prevailed over Oswego in dual match competition Wednesday afternoon, with 8-1 and 4-3 victories respectively. The win put the Lady Highlanders back into a winning percentage for the year at 8-7, and the men back to .500 at 3-3 after falling to St. Bonaventure last week.
On the women's side, both Oswego and Houghton would start the match with 5 players aside making the match out of 7 points total. The Highlander's would just pull through with the slight 4-3 victory with Senior Captain
Chloe Esch leading the way. Esch would battle from a set down to take the win at the first singles position, 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 in the deciding third set breaker. Other singles victors would include
Marilynn Amborski at the second spot cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 win, and
Arija Grant clinching the match at the fifth spot 6-1, 6-2. Grant and
Clancey Cockle would also grab a doubles point to start the match with an 8-4 win at the second flight.
On the men's side of the match, the Highlander's would once again use a strong start in doubles to set the tone for the match.
Marcelo Garcia and
Micah Schilke would have to battle from behind, but stay poised in the big moments winning 8-6 at the first flight. Following right behind them,
Nolan Zach and
Matt Cicero would win 8-3 at the second spot, and
Graham Cook and
Sam Bonisteel would also win 8-3 at the third flight. In singles, wins from
Levi Webb (1 singles) 6-3, 6-3,
Marcelo Garcia (2 singles) 6-4, 6-0,
Nolan Zach (3 singles) 6-4, 6-3,
Sam Bonisteel (5 singles) 6-3, 6-4, and finally
Graham Cook (6 singles) 6-1, 6-1 would close out the match.
"I always love the combined men's and women's matches because although our teams are separate, the program is one big family" Coach Shilvock said post match. "It was awesome to get two big wins, and to have the program united on the courts today. The effort and energy was apparent this afternoon, and it was nice to be rewarded for that in the results!"
The women will get back into action in a couple weeks when they take on Penn State Behrend at home on Wednesday, March 22nd, and the men will get a week off before they battle Daemen at home on the March 15th at 4pm.
