MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston men's tennis team started off its three-match weekend with a 5-2 victory over Boston University on Friday afternoon at the CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
The Cougars (8-3) swept the doubles and won four of the six singles matches behind straight-set victories from Zack Lewis, Rodrigo Encinas and Vasily Kichigan. Lewis gave up only three games to Stefan Lemire at the No. 2 line, while Encinas only five games to Lucas Bombonatti at No. 3.
CofC's top player Juan Estevarena defeated BU's Jay Leelavanich in a third-set tiebreaker, 2-6, 7-6, 1-0 (1).
“Today was probably what it needed to be,” CofC Head Coach Jay Bruner said. “This is our first and only time with a set of three matches in a row before the conference tournament. We got off to a good start today with the doubles point. We also had a couple of different guys play for us in the lineup. We are recovering from banged-up bodies from February and are now playing in warmer weather. Our singles play was good and it was a good start to the weekend.”
The Cougars will continue weekend play with No. 28-ranked Old Dominion (12-3) on Saturday, March 12 at 12 p.m. (ET) and James Madison on Sunday, March 13 at 10 a.m. (ET) at the CofC Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
“ODU is a Top-30 team in the country and will be a good challenge for us,” Bruner said. “Our guys are ready for the opportunity. We are also very serious about our JMU match on Sunday. Three matches in a row. That's the way we will end the season with the last match of the year at the conference tournament.”
Col. of Charleston 5, Boston University 2
SINGLES
1. Juan Estevarena (COFC) def. Jay Leelavanich (BU), 2-6, 7-6, 1-0 (1).
2. Zack Lewis (COFC) def. Stefan Lemire (BU), 6-1, 6-2.
3. Rodrigo Encinas (COFC) def. Lucas Bombonatti (BU), 6-3, 6-2.
4. Satyajit Simhadri (BU) def. Charlie Ghriskey (COFC), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2).
5. Vasily Kichigin (COFC) def. Mario Sandoval (BU), 6-1, 7-5.
6. Jeff Chan (BU) def. Matt Daly (COFC), 6-4, 6-3.
DOUBLES
1. Charlie Ghriskey/Zack Lewis (COFC) def. Jake De Vries/Jay Leelavanich (BU), 6-2.
2. Rodrigo Encinas/Josh Record (COFC) def. Miguel Cepeda/Stefan Lemire (BU), 6-4.
3. Matt Daly/Franz Sydow (COFC) def. Jeff Chan/Satyajit Simhadri (BU), 6-1.
