Box Score

MOREHEAD, Ky. – The University of Pikeville men's tennis team, ranked 21st in the NAIA, battled with NCAA Div. I Morehead State (Ky.) before ultimately losing 6-1 on Friday at the Eagle Center Courts.

Playing with NCAA scoring rules, a single team point was available from the three doubles matches and the Eagles took two of three to go up 1-0 overall.

Morehead State's top-seeded duo of Ji Hoon Heo and Jack Swindells topped Dmitry Babenkov and Sven Rodenbusch 8-5 and its second-seeded pair of David Clifford and Giovanni Samaha used an extra game to beat Pawel Tarasewisca and Marcos Fondelius 8-6.

While the doubles point was already locked up for the Eagles, UPIKE did notch a win with third-seeded Connor Smith and Felix Singer outlasting Enrique Samudio and Nick Mercer 9-7.

Pikeville's only win in singles came at the No. 6 seed where Juan Manuel Reyes captured a quick 6-2 first set before holding on 7-5 in the second to win against Gabriel Ruiz. Seeds one through five went to Morehead State, all in straight sets.

Fifth-seeded Francois Billet came the closest to picking up another point for the Bears, losing to Clifford 6-4, 6-4.

UPIKE returns to the courts with its home and Mid-South Conference opener at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday against Bluefield (Va.) at Bob Amos Park.

 
Morehead State (Ky.) 6, UPIKE 1

Feb. 21, 2014 at Eagle Center Courts (Morehead, Ky.)

 
Singles
1. Jack Swindells (MSU) def. Sven Rodenbusch (UPIKE) 6-4, 6-1
2. Giovanni Samaha (MSU) def. Dmitry Babenkov (UPIKE) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ji Hoon Heo (MSU) def. Felix Singer (UPIKE) 6-1, 6-3
4. Nick Mercer (MSU) def. Pawel Tarasewiscz (UPIKE) 6-3, 6-2
5. David Clifford (MSU) def. Francois Billet (UPIKE) 6-4, 6-4
6. Juan Manuel Reyes (UPIKE) def. Gabriel Ruiz (MSU) 6-2, 7-5

 
Doubles
1. Ji Hoon Heo/Jack Swindells (MSU) def. Dmitry Babenkoz/Sven Rodenbusch (UPIKE) 8-5
2. David Clifford/Giovanni Samaha (MSU) def. Pawel Tarasewiscz/Marcos Fondelius (UPIKE) 8-6
3. Connor Smith/Felix Singer (UPIKE) def. Enrique Samudio/Nick Mercer (MSU) 9-7

 
Match Notes
Pikeville 1-1; National Ranking: No. 21
Morehead State 2-2; National Ranking: UR