PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Pikeville tennis teams traveled to Siesta Key, Florida from March 9-16 for a pair of matches. In the first dual match, the teams squared off against Ave Maria University in the Naples area. For the second dual match, the Bears faced NCAA D-III University of Wisconsin-Superior in Orlando's Spring Break Sports event held at the USTA National Campus.
The women's team picked up two victories while the men's team picked up its first win of the season.
Match #1 - Ave Maria University Gyrenes in Ave Maria, Florida
On the women's side, the Bears swept all three doubles matches and five singles matches to defeat the Gyrenes, 8-1. Teammates Charlie Nijenhuis and Ashton Jones won the #1 line 8-6, the duo of Andrea Hurtado and Riley Mullins won 8-0 at the #2 line, and partners Madison Daniels and Camila Agudelo won 8-6 at the #3 line.
In singles, Hurtado, Nijenhuis, and Agudelo cruised to 6-0, 6-0 victories at the #1, #3, and #5 spots, respectively, and Mullins made quick work of her opponent at #4 singles for a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Madison Daniels won her match at #6 singles 6-0, 6-2. The only loss of the match was at #2 singles where Ashton Jones was defeated 3-6, 2-6. The victories in singles and doubles were Daniels' first wins of the 2018-19 season and also her first competitions of the season.
On the men's side, the Bears were an early underdog due to team travel issues and fell to the Gyrenes, 8-1. The only victory of the match came at #1 doubles where Martyn Icke and Luis Gayoso won 8-6. The win marked Icke's and Gayoso's first collegiate victories. The duo of Kenton Hall and Juan Diego Medina then lost a tough match at #2 by a score of 4-8.
In singles, Icke lost a hard fought #1 singles match 3-6, 1-6 and Medina lost 2-6, 4-6 at the #2 line. Gayoso came out strong but his opponent won several break points to hand him a 2-6, 3-6 loss. At #4 singles, Hall was dealt a 2-6, 1-6 loss to complete the match.
Match #2 - University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets in Orlando, Florida
In women's play, the Bears won two doubles matches and three singles matches to earn a 5-4 victory at the world-renowned, national facility in Orlando. Teammates Hurtado and Agudelo won #1 doubles 8-3 and Nijenhuis and Jones won the #2 line 8-3. The duo of Mullins and Daniels lost 1-8 to start the competitive match up 2-1.
In singles, Hurtado earned a 6-0, 6-4 victory at #1 singles, Mullins earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at the #2 spot, and Nijenhuis earned a 6-1, 6-4 point at the fourth spot. With the match already clinched, Jones and Agudelo both lost third-set tiebreakers after winning their first sets.
On the men's side, the Bears were outnumbered but not outplayed. The Bears earned three singles victories and two doubles victories to win the 5-4 match. Medina and Gayoso paired for the 8-3 win at #1 doubles and Icke and Hall earned the 8-1 victory at #2 doubles.
In singles, Icke clinched the match victory at #1 singles 6-3, 6-2 in the day's longest match. Medina won at #2 singles by a score of 6-1, 6-1 while his aunt cheered him on from the stands. Gayoso defeated his singles #3 opponent 6-2, 6-2 and Hall played well in a very close match loss at #4 singles, 2-6, 4-6.
UPIKE coach Ben Adams was highly satisfied with the tone and outcome of the trip.
"Our first 2018-19 road trip for both teams was a huge success," said Adams. "Not only did the men and women earn victories, they did so against quality opponents while withstanding the hot weather conditions in sunny Florida.
"Both teams competed at high levels through perseverance and positive attitudes, and Coach Reyes and I are confident we represented the University of Pikeville well. The trip to the USTA National Campus was definitely a bucket list item that none of us will forget."
UP NEXT
The UPIKE men's and women's tennis teams compete in two conference matches on the road this week, one Thursday at Shawnee State and one Saturday at Campbellsville.
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