IRVINE — The #9 Westmont men’s tennis team finished with a big 5-4 win in their conference opener against #11 Concordia on Tuesday.
The Warriors have had multiple weeks of practices, scrimmages and good competition, which have brought them to this point. The men were focused and determined to start conference play off well, and thankfully they did not disappoint.
The doubles matches of the day were all very tightly matched. Barnard and Lindqvist tag teamed for a 9-8 (3) win in the number one spot this afternoon. They were followed by Christian Mathis and Jan Sibbel who defeated Concordia’s Rafael Racy and Bernardo Bertolucci by a close score of 9-7. In the third position, Kimsey and Whalen were taken down 8-4 by the Eagles’ Pronath and Ko. At the conclusion of the doubles, the Warriors held a 2-1 lead.
The Warriors split right down the middle in singles matches, with three wins and three losses. In the number one spot, Luke Whalen was defeated by final scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 allowing Concordia to add another point to the overall team score. Lindqvist then handily defeated his opponent Guttenburger 6-3, 6-1 while Barnard lost to Concordia’s Pronath in three (5-7, 6-0, 6-1).
As the rest of the matches concluded (Mathis lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 and Kimsey won 6-2, 6-1), it became clear that the number four court would be the determining factor in which team walked away with a win. Jan Sibbel was up against Rafael Racy in a showdown of a match. After three evenly matched sets and a tiebreaker, Sibbel was the ultimate victor with final scores of 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), giving the Warriors the final point needed to progress to 1-0 in conference play.
Westmont is currently 1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference. They will be hosting Hope International on Saturday February 7 at 11 a.m. at the Abbott Tennis Courts.
