ABILENE – Abilene Christian's 14th-ranked men's tennis team won its third straight match and second by shutout Wednesday night on the indoor courts of the Teague Events Center, blanking South Central region foe Texas-Permian Basin, 9-0.
The victory lifted ACU's season record to 6-4, while the Falcons – a second-year program in the Heartland Conference – fell to 4-4.
The Wildcats were challenged early on in doubles but held on to win at all three positions. The No. 3 freshman team of
Jason Proctor and
Marco Bensley won its first match together against Meliton Morales and Justin Delgado, 8-3, and then
Alfredo Desiati and
Guilherme Gesser earned a hard fought 8-5 decision at No. 2 vs. Johnathan Rutledge and Vicente Veck.
Playing together for just the second time at No. 1, the Wildcat team of senior
Hans Hach and freshman
Nicklas Wingord was pushed to its limit by the team of Alcaro Sifuentes and Austin Fowler before prevailing in the end, 9-8 (1). The Falcons targeted Wingord early on in building a two-point lead, but toward the end of the match he started ripping some fine shots in between the alley and sidelines in bringing his team back from a 7-6 deficit.
Rutledge again tested Wingord in their match at No. 2 singles. Wingord won the first set 6-4, lost the second, 7-6, but then came all the way back from being down 9-6 in the super tiebreaker to prevail, 13-11.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wingord has won his last three matches at No. 2 after starting the year 2-3.
The remaining ACU singles players all won their matches in straight sets, led by Hach, who was the first one off the court this evening following his 6-2, 6-1 win vs. Sifuentes. Hach has won his last seven in improving to 8-1, and he is 9-1 in doubles.
The Wildcats return to action this weekend for two big road games at Baylor and St. Edward's. The Hilltoppers are the region's No. 3 team, and last year upset the Wildcats in Abilene, 5-4.
The meeting between ACU and Baylor is its first since 2010.
#
14 Abilene Christian 9, Texas-Permian Basin 0
Feb 27, 2013 at Abilene, TX (Teague Events Center)
Singles competition
1. #2
Hans Hach (ACUM) def. Alcaro Sifuentes (UTPB) 6-2, 6-1
2.
Nicklas Wingord (ACUM) def. Jonathan Rutledge (UTPB) 6-4, 6-7, 13-11
3.
Guilherme Gesser (ACUM) def. Vicente Veck (UTPB) 6-2, 6-1
4. #42 Borja Cortes (ACUM) def. Justin Delgado (UTPB) 6-2, 6-2
5. #45
Alfredo Desiati (ACUM) def. Edgar Lazcano (UTPB) 6-0, 6-1
6.
Jason Proctor (ACUM) def. Austin Fowler (UTPB) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles competition
1.
Hans Hach/
Nicklas Wingord (ACUM) def. Alcaro Sifuentes/Austin Fowler (UTPB) 9-8 (7-1)
2.
Alfredo Desiati/
Guilherme Gesser (ACUM) def. Jonathan Rutledge/Vicente Veck (UTPB) 8-5
3.
Jason Proctor/
Marco Bensley (ACUM) def. Meliton Morales/Justin Delgado (UTPB) 8-3
Match Notes
Texas-Permian Basin 4-4
Abilene Christian 6-4; National ranking #14; Regional ranking #2
T-4:00 A-100
