Anderson, S.C.----The Anderson University men’s tennis team took a 3-0 lead after doubles and survived a furious comeback to claim a 5-4 South Atlantic Conference victory over visiting Wingate University Wednesday at the Max Grubbs Memorial Courts. Anderson is 8-5 overall and 8-1 in the SAC. NCAA Division II number 42 Wingate is 12-8 overall and 6-2 in the SAC.
 
Anderson freshman Inaki Iriberry (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) won the deciding match, outlasting Wingate freshman Westin Bennett (Calgary, Alberta) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8) at the number six singles flight. Bennett led 8-7 in the tie-breaker (played in lieu of the third set), but Iriberry rallied to win the last three points and the match.
 
The Trojans started the afternoon with three 8-3 victories in the doubles competition. Wingate sophomore Neal Towlson (Warwick, Bermuda) got the Bulldogs on the board with a victory (by default) at number two singles. Anderson senior Loic Ambroise (Paris, France) defeated Wingate junior Ryan Forbes (Charlotte, N.C.) in the number four singles match to make the score 4-2 Trojans.
 
Wingate freshmen Kennedy Cancelado (Miami Springs, Fla.) and Sebastian Hall (Lörrach, Germany) and sophomore Josh Eardley (Newcastle, Staffordshire, England) earned singles triumphs for the visiting Bulldogs. Cancelado blanked AU senior Daniel Gonzalez (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) 6-0, 6-0 in the battle of the number one players.
 
Both Hall and Eardley claimed victories by virtue of a third set tie-breaker. Hall rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8) win over Anderson junior Krystof Gulbinovic (Vilnius, Lithuania) at the number three singles flight. Eardley defeated Trojan freshman Paul Calhoun (Starkville, Miss.) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (8) in the number five singles match.

Tennis Match Results
Wingate vs Anderson (S.C.)
Mar 27, 2013 at Anderson, S.C.
(Max Grubbs Memorial Courts)

Anderson (S.C.) 5, #42 Wingate 4

Singles competition
1. Kennedy Cancelado (WU) def. Daniel Gonzalez (AU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Neal Towlson (WU) def. Abdoulaye Camara (AU), default
3. Sebastian Hall (WU) def. Krystof Gulbinovic (AU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8)
4. Loic Ambroise (AU) def. Ryan Forbes (WU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Josh Eardley (WU) def. Paul Calhoun (AU) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (8)
6. Inaki Iriberry (AU) def. Westin Bennett (WU) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8)

Doubles competition
1. Camara/Jerome Branker (AU) def. Cancelado/Forbes (WU) 8-3
2. Gulbinovic/Calhoun (AU) def. Towlson/Bennett (WU) 8-3
3. Gonzalez/Iriberry (AU) def. Hall/Eardley (WU) 8-3

 

Match Notes:

Anderson (S.C.) 8-5, 8-1 SAC

Wingate 12-8, 6-2 SAC; National ranking #42

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,4,1,3,5,6)