TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The Lee University Men's Tennis team opened its season with a 7-0 win over North Greenville University Friday afternoon at NGU's Vance Tennis Complex. The Crusaders dropped to 1-5 on the season.
"I'm pretty happy with the result," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "It was a pretty typical first match. The conditions were really tough today, it was really windy. Both teams did a good job of going out and taking care of business. The guys were really disciplined and it was just a good team win."
The Flames swept the three doubles matches to claim a 1-0 lead heading into singles competition. Jake Okines and Bruno Medeiros defeated Pierre Bedard and Robin van der Heijden 6-3. Jesus Garcia Gil and Cristian Pans took down Kaey-Den Tan and Francisco Tico by the same score. Daniel Prata and Antonio Pons were 6-4 winners against Giacomo Garini and Yannis Moulod.
Cristian Pons defeated Moulod 6-4 and 6-0 in the first completed singles match. Medeiros beat Tico 6-2, 6-0 to put Lee up 3-0. Okines won both of his sets against van der Heijden 6-3 to clinch the team win.
Gil posted a 6-2, 6-3 win against Bedard at No. 1 singles. Antonio Pons held off Garini 7-5 in their opening set before claiming the second set 6-1.
Prata needed three sets to defeat Tan. Prata breezed through the first set by a 6-1 margin, but Tan recorded a 7-5 margin in the second set to force a third set where Prata won the super-set tiebreaker 10-6.
"We're going to have to play well tomorrow. If we go out there and play with a little bit of energy and show a little fight, I think we will be able to do well," added Hynes.
The Flames travel to Clinton, S.C., to battle Presbyterian College in an exhibition match on Saturday before returning to the DeVos Tennis Center to open their home schedule on Thursday (Feb. 14) against Carson-Newman University at 2 p.m.
