PENSACOLA, FL (April 3, 2015) – The Hawai'i Pacific Men's Tennis Team (17-0), the top team in Division II, beat the NAIA's top ranked team in Georgia Gwinnett College (10-2). HPU won 5-3 in a neutral court match in Pensacola.
GGC gave HPU arguably its biggest test so far in this undefeated season.
The Sharks earned themselves an edge by winning two out of the three doubles matches. The fifth-ranked team of
Thibaud Berland and
Yann Renault won 8-6 at first doubles while
Maik Burlage and
Marko Lenz were also victorious by an 8-5 score.
Lenz (#2) won 6-4, 6-2 at the top of the singles lineup to give HPU a 3-1 lead. However, GGC earned wins at second and fourth singles to tie the match up. Renault picked up a three-set comeback win at sixth singles (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) to give the lead back to HPU. The Grizzlies were still in a position to deal the Sharks their first set back of the year as they led the final two matches.
Clemens Graute split the first two sets (7-6, 3-6) but was down 5-4 and a break in the third. The heavy-handed junior played with ice water in his veins and came back to win. The match was stopped, and HPU celebrated.
HPU wraps up the road trip against #6 Concordia College (New York) tomorrow in Pensacola.
Box Score
