Men's Tennis

February 17, 2008

Trinity Edged by D-II St. Edward's Sunday

Trinity (1-2) has yet to face a Division III opponent this year, but the team did upset D-II's Midwestern State - ranked 32nd nationally - in the season opener.

The Tigers lost two of the three doubles matches against St. Edward's, though the No. 1 team of Oliver Gaines and Ryan DeSantis did win 8-4.  Bobby Cocanaugher and Cory Kowal lost a 9-8 (7-5) decision at the No. 3 spot, which turned out to be a much-needed point in the end.

Gaines also won at No. 1 singles, outlasting Justin Raiti 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) for the victory.  James Furr also won in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-2) at No. 2 singles, while David Tran earned a straight-set (6-2, 6-1) victory at No. 3 singles. 

Cocanaugher and Crisanto Ramirez lost at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, respectively, and Cocanaugher's loss was in a three-set match against Bernie Lancaster of St. Edward's.  Lancaster won 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the match.

The final - and deciding - point came down to No.4 singles, pitting Trinity's Varun Munjal against Jake Walley of St. Edward's.  Munjal won the opening set 7-6, but Walley took the next two (6-3, 6-3) to break the tie and clinch the team's victory.

Trinity will head to the ITA National Indoor Championships next weekend, taking on hosting Gustavus Adolphus College at 5:00 p.m. in its opening contest.  The Tigers return home on March 1 against a pair of American Southwest Conference teams in Hardin-Simmons and McMurry.