Men Finish Spring Break Trip with Split

The Oglethorpe University men's tennis team completed their spring break trip to Orlando by splitting their final two matches on Friday. The Petrels topped Calvin (5-3) and lost to Grinell (5-4).

Despite falling behind Calvin 2-1 following the doubles matches, Oglethorpe rallied to claim four of the five completed singles matches for the win. The No. 2 doubles combo of Felix Mann and Bryan Bailey (8-4) won their match while the duos of Brad White and Ross Beall (8-4) and Alex Biffle and Tim Tanko (8-4) each fell by the same score.

The Petrels reclaimed control of the match in the singles competition, getting wins from No. 1 Mann (6-0, 6-2), No. 2 Beall (clincher, 7-5, 6-4), No. 3 Biffle (6-0, 6-0) and No. 4 Bailey (6-4, 6-3). White (6-2, 6-2) fell at No. 5 and Masen Shreve's match did not finish at No. 6 because the Petrels had already clinched the victory.

Against No. 15 ranked Grinell (Central Region), a leg-weary Petrels could not overcome the same 2-1 hole created after the doubles matches. Mann and Bailey (8-4) were again able to win in doubles but Beall and White (8-1) and Biffle and Tanko (8-1) went down by the identical score.

In singles, the Petrels were forced to retire at No. 1 (Mann) and No. 5 (Shreve) as both players suffered cramps after playing five matches in four days. Biffle (6-1, 6-1), Bailey (6-3, 6-2) and Beall (6-4, 5-7, 10-5) all won their matches but a loss by Lawrence Sweatman (6-4, 6-3) clinched the match for Grinell.

Oglethorpe won three of five matches in the grueling spring break run to raise their record to 8-5 on the season. Next up is an April 2 match on Downing Howell Courts at 12:00 p.m.