ORLANDO, Fla. – The Lee University men's tennis team dropped a tough 5-4 decision to Rockhurst University Tuesday evening at the USTA National Campus. The Flames dropped to 5-3 on the season, while the Hawks improved to 6-2.
"It was a tough battle," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "We have been performing really well in doubles this year and today gave us another great platform. Rhys (Milne) and Jake (Okines) set a great tone for the team and Daniel (Prata) and Igor (Schattan) probably played their best doubles together today. I think Daniel only missed one return for the entire match."
Milne and Okines recorded an 8-2 win over Patrik Cvik and Tarass Thevenaz at No. 1 doubles to give Lee an early 1-0 lead. Prata and Schattan doubled-up Oskar Unger and Jonas Stropus, 8-4, to regain the lead after Julien Burmudez and Nicolas Leon outlasted Boyd Blackburn and Bruno Medeiros, 8-6.
The Hawks claimed the first three singles results to take a 4-2 lead and pull within one point of clinching the team win. Thevenaz won 6-0, 6-2 against Blackburn; Cvik beat Medeiros 6-2 and 6-1; and Riveros was a 6-3, 6-2 winner against Okines.
"Rockhurst knocked us in a couple of singles spots today, but Rhys and Daniel showed great fight to pull out quality wins from a set down. Igor was right there and I can't fault his effort. The other guy did a great job under high pressure and deserved to win," said Hynes.
Milne was edged by Unger, 8-6, in their first-set tie-breaker, but forced a third set with a 6-0 advantage in the second set. Milne earned the match victory with a 10-5 mark in a super set tie-breaker to pull Lee within one point at 4-3.
Stropus ended the Lee comeback hopes with a three-set win over Schattan. Schattan claimed the opening set 6-3, but Stropus won the second set, 6-2, and edged Schattan 10-7 in a final super set.
Prata split his first two sets with Leon before claiming the final super set 10-8 and setting the final team score.
"This loss hurts, but honestly it's probably what we need. If we want to be a top 50 program we've got to win these types of matches. We are right in the mix and we'll get there," added Hynes.
The Flames will take Wednesday off before getting back on the courts on Thursday against Cedarville University.
ROCKHURST 5, LEE UNIVERSITY 4
Singles competition
1. Rhys Milne (LEE-M) def. Oskar Unger (RUM) 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 10-5
2. Nicolas Riveros (RUM) def. Jake Okines (LEE-M) 6-3, 6-2
3. Jonas Stropus (RUM) def. Igor Schattan (LEE-M) 3-6, 6-2, 10-7
4. Tarass Thevenaz (RUM) def. Boyd Blackburn (LEE-M) 6-0, 6-2
5. Patrik Cvik (RUM) def. Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) 6-2, 6-1
6. Daniel Prata (LEE-M) def. Nicolas Leon (RUM) 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
Doubles competition
1. Rhys Milne/Jake Okines (LEE-M) def. Patrik Cvik/Tarass Thevenaz (RUM) 8-2
2. Daniel Prata/Igor Schattan (LEE-M) def. Oskar Unger/Jonas Stropus (RUM) 8-4
3. Julien Burmudez/Nicolas Leon (RUM) def. Boyd Blackburn/Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) 8-6
