The Lee University Men's Tennis team opened its home schedule with a 5-2 defeat of Carson-Newman University Thursday afternoon at the DeVos Tennis Center. The Flames improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Eagles fell to 1-2.
Daniel Prata and Antonio Pons blanked Marc Bantel and Victor Ireno at No. 3 doubles. Jake Okines and Bruno Medeiros held off Gabriel Dabdab and Jesus Bacete 6-4 to give the Flames the doubles point and a 1-0 lead. Jesus Garcia and Cristian Pons outlasted Rintaro Oka and Hernan Toledo 7-6 to complete the sweep of doubles competition.
Dabdab evened the team score with a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Garcia at No. 1 singles. Oka put the visitors up 2-1 following a 6-4, 6-3 win against Okines.
Prata dropped his opening set to Toledo 6-3 before roaring back and posting 6-3 margins in the next two sets to push the team score to 2-2 with three matches to be completed.
"We set a good tone early and got off to a nice start in doubles," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "We needed that win from Daniel today. He got us back on track after we had lost three first sets."
Antonio Pons beat Bantel in straight sets 6-1 and 6-1 to put Lee within one point of the team victory. Medeiros beat Joseph Stiles 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6 singles to clinch the team win.
Cristian Pons dropped the opening set to Bacete 7-6 following an 8-6 tie-breaker. Pons battled back to win the second set 6-0 and completed the comeback with a 6-3 mark in the third set.
The Flames continue their home stand on Saturday against Lees-McRae College. The non-conference match is scheduled for a noon start.
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