AU men's tennis team off to 3-1 start to season

By Preston Hall | Sports writer

The Augusta University men’s tennis team suffered their first loss of the season to the No. 6 ranked Lander University on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Newman Tennis Center.  However, it was the only blemish to a strong start to the season.

Augusta (3-1) battled hard against Lander with temperatures reaching near 80 degrees, the hottest the tennis players have played in so far this season. The heat and travel may have played a role today versus Lander (6-0). The previous match versus Emanuel was rescheduled from Friday to Saturday, so the Jaguars (who won that match 4-2 on the road) didn’t get home until late Saturday evening. 

“They competed really well,” said AU Coach Michael McGrath, pleased with how his team battled not only with Lander but the elements. “We went three sets in four spots.”

The heat was hard to deal with but the team never stopped playing hard. 

“We need to get in better shape; it’s 80 degrees out and it hasn’t been this hot all year,” said McGrath. “We need to spend a little more time on the track. I think my guys had to make some bad decisions because they were tired.”

He also noted he wants his players to be a little bit better conditioned so that when it comes to the longer matches like Sunday’s, they can grind out wins. 

Lander was able to win the doubles matches earlier and put themselves in an early lead, one that they held onto and extended with singles match victories. Although AU lost the overall macth on Sunday, one key player was Jaguar junior Lucas Bolle. 

Bolle’s singles match versus Lander graduate Adam Elliget requested a referee halfway through the first set when there was a discrepancy between the two players on whether a ball was in play or not. After the exchange, both players took a few moments and collected themselves. 

Bolle was able to center himself and ended up winning his singles match.

 “I expect that from him,” said McGrath.  “He has been around for a while and as a freshman he had a tough time dealing with that kind of adversity and has come a long way.”

On Saturday, in the team win over Emmanuel, singles winners for AU were Bolle, Quentin Cano Perez and Herick Isago. The doubles victory came from the teams of Bolle and Martin Hurtado, as well as Herick Isago and Alvaro Quereda.

Augusta’s next match will be against the Columbus State Cougars (5-0) Friday, March 5, at 2 p.m., at the Newman Tennis Center.   

Note: At the top of the page, AU’s No. 3, Quentin Cano Perez, serves in his singles match against Lander at the Newman Tennis Center. (photo by Preston Hall.)

Contact Preston Hall at PRHALL@augusta.edu.