Men's Tennis begins spring break trip with pair of victories in Virginia

By Tim Glon

The Ohio Northern men's tennis team stopped in Virginia on Saturday on its way to its annual spring break trip and came away with road victories at Southern Virginia and Randolph (Va.)

The Polar Bears (8-3 overall) began the day with a thrilling 5-4 victory at Southern Virginia in the morning, then won 8-1 at Randolph (4-3) in the afternoon.

Against the Knights, Northern won No. 3-6 singles to rally from a 2-1 deficit to post the 5-4 win.

Trailing 4-3, senior Vinh Thai (Galloway/Saint Charles) won 7-5, 7-6(7) at No. 3 singles to tie it at 4-4 and junior Matt Garcia (Downers Grove, Ill./South) ground out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 6 doubles to clinch the match.

Freshman Peyton Specht (Munster, Ind.) won by injury default at No. 4 singles and freshman Sam Sran (PB, India/St. Stephens and Gian Jyoti Global) won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.

Senior Andrew Cochran (Wooster) and freshman Drew Swisher (Findlay) won 8-7 (10-8) at No. 3 doubles.

Northern then took a 40-mile drive south to play Randolph and swept the six singles courts to post the win over the Wildcats, who played the match with only five players and had to forfeit No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.

Thai and senior Zach Beaschler (Ada) won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles as ONU took a 2-1 lead into singles play.

Cochran won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1, freshman Tristan Munteanu (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon) won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, Specht won 7-5, 6-0 at No. 3, Sran won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 and Swisher won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5.

The polar Bears will return to action Monday with matches against Lake Forest (Ill.) and Berry (Ga.) at Hilton Head Island, S.C.