Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The men’s tennis team took their match against the Black Knights of Army to a thrilling finish, but fell just short, finishing 4-3. After grabbing the doubles point and winning two singles matches early, the Terriers were in prime position to grab the victory, but Army’s late singles play helped push them to the close win.
Wofford moves to a 5-7 (1-1 SoCon) record on the season and Army improves to a 6-7 record. The Army men's tennis team is visiting the Carolinas during their spring break to participate in the Chick-Fil-A Doubles Invitational and two other dual matches while on break. The Black Knights will be playing Furman and Buffalo during the remainder of their stay in Greenville, S.C.
The Terriers were forced to push back their previously scheduled 2:30 p.m. match against the Army Black Knights to 8:00 p.m because of rainy conditions throughout all of Tuesday. The match was also moved to Furman University’s four indoor tennis courts located inside the Mickel Tennis Center.
Coach Rod Ray made some changes in the starting line-up against the Black Knights. Senior Paul Bartholomy returned from a prolonged injury to start at the No. 2 doubles slot with fellow senior Alan Donald. Bartholomy played as if he hadn’t missed any time at all, helping the Terriers to win the doubles point.
Tinus Van Wyk and Stuart Robertson gave the Terriers an early advantage in doubles play, easily pushing past Tripp Johnson and Donald Van Velzer, 8-2 at the top slot. Michael Schecter and Jack Seiffert were unable to win their doubles match verses Asika Isoh and Henry Jang-Milsten, losing 8-4 at the No. 3 spot.
With the doubles point riding on Bartholomy and Donald, the two senior captains led the team to their fourth double point of the season. Their match against Alex Holland and Gary Kushnirovich ended in a close finish after being forced to a tie-breaker. The senior duo captured the doubles point with a 9-8 (8-6) finish.
Tom Wood and Tinus Van Wyk put the Terriers in position to win the match with wins in singles play. Due to time constrictions, it was decided that the third set would instead be played as a super tie-breaker, and both Wood and Van Wyk took their matches to super tie-breaker finishes.
Wood finished first, defeating Jang-Milsten 6-3, 3-6, 13-11 at the No. 6 spot and Van Wyk grabbed a 7-5, 3-6, 10-2 victory over Isoh at the No. 1 position. Wood has won his last two singles matches in a row and now is second on the team in singles wins with six.
Schecter and Robertson were the next two to finish and both Terrier athletes were unable to defeat their opposition. Schecter lost to Kushnirovich 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 and Robertson was defeated by Van Velzer, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) at the No. 3 position.
Donald and Superstein started their tennis matches around 10:30 in the evening and concluded around 1:00 in the morning. With a 3-2 lead, the Terriers tried to put the finishing touch to end the match, but fell just shy. Donald lost to Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) at the No. 4 spot and Superstein lost 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) after facing Holland at the No. 5 slot.
After a tremendous show from both teams, the Black Knights came out on top with the 4-3 win.
Wofford will return to conference play in their next match against Georgia Southern. The Terriers will be playing in Statesboro, Ga., March 19th at 11:00 a.m.
