CLINTON, S.C. - The Newberry men's tennis team opened the 2012-13 season with some complications when rain pushed the start of singles play, of a 6-1 loss at Presbyterian, back nearly a week after doubles matches were completed as the Wolves and Blue Hose wrapped up their non-conference match Thursday at the Templeton Tennis Courts.
On Saturday Newberry (0-1) challenged at No. 1 doubles where junior Michael Saunders (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Vinicius Botelho (Fortaleza, Brazil) battled their Blue Hose counterparts in an 8-6 defeat. Botelho and Saunders were ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in the final rankings of the 2011-12 season.
Thursday's action in singles saw the Wolves challenge at No. 5 singles, where junior Mohammed Chakir (Rabat, Morocco) win set two against Steven Weaver before falling 12-10 in the third and deciding set. The Wolves played close in both No. 1 and No. 2 singles where Saunders and Botelho, respectively, both forced tie breaks against their opponents.
The Wolves lone point came at No. 3 singles where sophomore Carlos Nicolopulos (Valencia, Venezuela) rallied from a set down to defeat Andrew Brigham 6-4 and 6-1 in the final two sets.
Newberry's match at Presbyterian was the only scheduled competition for the fall as the Wolves will return to action at No. 8 Lander on February 1, 2013.
Presbyterian 6, Newberry 1
September 29, 2012
Clinton, S.C.
Templeton Tennis Court
Singles Competition
1. MILLS, Grayson (PCM) def. Michael Saunders (NEWM) 6-3, 7-6
2. BERGHAUS, Rafael (PCM) def. Vinicius Botelho (NEWM) 7-6, 6-2
3. Carlos Nicolopulos (NEWM) def. BRIGHAM, Andrew (PCM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. ASIS, Gonzalo (PCM) def. Cal Loveridge (NEWM) 6-3, 6-1
5. WEAVER, Steven (PCM) def. Mohammed Chakir (NEWM) 7-5, 2-6, 12-10
6. BRUCE, Danny (PCM) def. David Sons (NEWM) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. BERGHAUS, Rafael/MILLS, Grayson (PCM) def. Michael Saunders/Vinicius Botelho (NEWM) 8-6
2. BRIGHAM, Andrew/O'CONNELL, William (PCM) def. Cal Loveridge/Carlos Nicolopulos (NEWM) 8-3
3. BRUCE, Danny/ASIS, Gonzalo (PCM) def. Jeffery Kiser/David Sons (NEWM) 8-1
Match Notes
Presbyterian 2-0
Newberry 0-1
