Lee University’s men’s tennis team hosted The Citadel to open the 2017 season at the DeVos Tennis Center. The Bulldogs (6-3) won 2-of-3 doubles matches and 4-of-6 in singles competition to claim the 6-3 victory.
“It was a good match,” said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. “We had a few opportunities that we didn’t quite take today.”
Jake Okines and Boyd Blackburn were edged 8-6 at No. 2 doubles, while Daniel Prata and Westley Lemie lost by the same score at No. 3 doubles. Rhys Milne and Igor Schattan put the Flames on the board with an 8-4 mark over Matthew Henson and Trey Davis.
The Citadel won the first three singles matches to record the team win. Blackburn ended the Bulldogs’ run with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Davis in the sixth position.
Prata gutted out a three-set win over Roy Hobson at No. 5 singles for Lee’s final team point. Hobson won the first set with a 7-5 tie-breaker before Prata won the second set 6-4 to force a third set. Once again, a tie-breaker was needed and Prata outlasted Hobson 7-3 to win the tie-breaker, the set and the match.
“Rhys and Igor were very disciplined in their doubles match,” said Hynes. “Boyd has had a really good week with his training and did a good job for his team. Daniel was down 0-3 in the third set and never gave up. We will get back after it again next week and get ready for West Florida.”
The Flames host West Florida on Mar. 3 in their Gulf South Conference opener. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
THE CITADEL 6, LEE UNIVERSITY 3
Singles competition
1. Michael Anzalone (CIT) def. Teodor Deljanovski (LEE-M) 6-3, 6-4
2. Matthew Henson (CIT) def. Rhys Milne (LEE-M) 6-1, 6-2
3. Noah Nawabi (CIT) def. Igor Schattan (LEE-M) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. W. Jacobus von Zyl (CIT) def. Jake Okines (LEE-M) 6-3, 6-2
5. Daniel Prata (LEE-M) def. Roy Hobson (CIT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Boyd Blackburn (LEE-M) def. Trey Davis (CIT) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Rhys Milne/Igor Schattan (LEE-M) def. Matthew Henson/Trey Davis (CIT) 8-4
2. Michael Anzalone/W. Jacobus von Zyl (CIT) def. Jake Okines/Boyd Blackburn (LEE-M) 8-6
3. Noah Nawabi/Connor Grady (CIT) def. Daniel Prata/Westley Lemke (LEE-M) 8-6