4-Peat: Asbury (Ky.) wins RSC Men's Tennis Championship in thriller over IU East
4-Peat: Asbury (Ky.) wins RSC Men's Tennis Championship in thriller over IU East
By Asbury Sports Information
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – Asbury (Ky.) University claimed its fourth consecutive River States Conference Men's Tennis Championship on Saturday afternoon as the top-seeded Eagles rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat No. 2 seed Indiana University East, 4-3, in the finals.
It all came down to the final court at No. 3 singles as Rodrigo Cavero won the deciding match in a third-set tiebreaker, 7-5. Asbury used a gutsy effort from everyone on Saturday to pull out the victory and to advance to the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship with the RSC's automatic bid.
The championship was held Friday and Saturday at the Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville, Ky. Asbury and IU East advanced to the finals by winning their semifinal matches on Friday, their only matches of the opening day.
Asbury took an early. 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point with victories from Tanner Sparks/ Felipe Penuela at No. 3 doubles and Duarte Teixeira/ Gregorio Ingles at No. 2 doubles.
Choopat Suvimolstean won in straight sets at No. 1 singles and was the first match completed to boost AU's lead out to 2-0.
IU East won the next three matches as the momentum swung in the Red Wolves' favor.
However, Asbury did not back down and won the final two matches with a big win at No. 5 singles from Luiz Gustavo Hartkopf and Cavero at No. 3 singles to seal the deal. Both Hartkopf and Cavero trailed 5-4 in the third set, with Hartkopf fighting off multiple match points to pull off the comeback victory.
The Eagles have won nine straight matches and are 10-1 overall on the year and will now await the draw for the national tournament which will be announced in May.
RSC MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL -- APRIL 24, 2021 (TOP SEED TENNIS CLUB)
No. 1 Asbury def. No. 2 IU East, 4-3
Singles
1. Choopat Suvimolstean (AU) def. Max Faundez (IUE), 6-1, 6-1
2. Francisco Faundez (IUE) def. Gregorio Ingles (AU), 6-2, 6-4
3. Rodrigo Cavero (AU) def. Adrian Martinez (IUE), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Moises Sosa (IUE) def. Tanner Sparks (AU), 6-3, 6-0
5. Luiz Gustavo Hartkopf (AU) def. Sebastian Torrealba (IUE), 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-5
6. Manuel Roman (IUE) def. Duarte Teixeira (AU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1. Choopat Suvimolstean-Rodrigo Cavero (AU) lead Max Faundez-Thorben Waldburger (IUE), 5-4, unfinished
2. Duarte Teixeira-Gregorio Ingles (AU) def. Francisco Faundez-Manuel Roman (IUE), 6-3
3. Felipe Penuela-Tanner Sparks (AU) def. Adrian Martinez-Moises Goncalves (IUE), 6-2