WINTER PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's tennis team started the spring season with a tall task on Friday, battling one of the nation's top Division II programs, the Tars of Rollins College. The Gyrenes got a singles win from the Tars, but eventually dropped a 6-1 decision in Winter Park. The match was the first of three against NCAA Division II opponents to start the season for the Gyrene men.
Doubles play belonged fully to the Tars, as the Gyrenes managed just five total points across the three doubles matches. Rollins' top duo of Luke Quaynor and Richard Stoiberer won their match by a 6-2 score. The clinching point was provided by Rollins' Guillermo Castaneda and Efe Comu, 6-1 winners to ensure Rollins entered singles play up 1-0. Charlie Putrino and Moritz Stenzer finished off the sweep, claiming a 6-2 victory.
Ave Maria's Pedro Garcia was the standout in singles play, as the newcomer earned his first AMU win at the fourth flight. Garcia claimed a three-set win over Castaneda, rallying from a 7-5 loss in the first set to win the second, 6-3, then take the tiebreaker by a 6-2 score.
Two other Gyrenes had chances to win their match, taking the action to a third set. At the top flight, Gaston Erhardt won the first set over Quaynor, 6-3, but then dropped the second and third sets. Anderson Duggan bounced back from a 6-1 first set loss in the third flight, winning the second set 7-6 before dropping a 10-8 decision in the tiebreaker.
However, Ave Maria's chances of winning the match were dashed quickly, as three matches were decided in straight sets. The Tars won easily at the second, fifth, and sixth sets, ensuring their victory in the match.
AMU will start the men's tennis season with three consecutive dual meets against NCAA Division II competition. The next of those teams on the schedule will be the Fightning Knights of Lynn University. The Gyrenes will head to Boca Raton on Friday, February 16. The home opener is scheduled for the following Tuesday, when Ave Maria plays host to the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic University.
