GOSHEN, Ind. — Eric Zuercher swept 12 straight games for a 6-0, 6-0 victory at no. 1 singles as Goshen College eased past Anderson University 8-1 in men's tennis action Thursday night at home.
The sophomore, playing a position higher than usual in the non-conference match, emerged victorious in his debut at the top spot. Zuercher and Kartikeya Sharma also won 8-4 at no. 1 doubles. The Maple Leafs' third doubles duo was notable for a different reason, as Ben Fox teamed with Eric Cender to win 8-5 in his first collegiate match.
In other singles action, Juan Miguel Ciudad won 6-1, 6-0 at no. 3, the scoreline evoking a breadstick and a bagel for hungry tennis fans who watched the match begin at 6 p.m. and last until 9:18. Luke Rush dropped three games in posting a 6-1, 6-2 win in his singles debut at no. 4, one fewer than Kartikeya Sharma's four games surrendered at no. 2.
Anderson's lone win came in a third set at no. 6 singles, where Jacob Hopper won 10-6 in a super tiebreak, which was played in lieu of a full set with the team match decided.
The visiting Ravens swept a 9-0 decision on the women's side, taking each singles match in straight sets. Noemi Salvador came within two games of winning the first set at no. 1 singles for Goshen (0-4, 0-3 CL) before a late break of serve set her opponent up for a 7-5, 6-3 win.
Perhaps Goshen's best chance for a team point came at no. 1 doubles. There, Salvador and Joelle Friesen won three straight games to tie the pro set at 7-7, one service game apiece away from a tiebreak. But the Ravens broke serve in the penultimate game and won 9-7 there.
Goshen returns to Crossroads League action Saturday at 1 p.m. at Marian: the men's match is a rematch of the 2015 Crossroads League tournament championship, won by the Knights.
More, including comments from Goshen director of tennis Evan Atkinson, to come when available.
Men: Goshen 8, Anderson 1
1S. Eric Zuercher (G) def. Andrew Gingerich 6-0, 6-0
2S. Kartikeya Sharma (G) def. Chase Kimmerling 6-2, 6-2
3S. Juan Miguel Ciudad (G) def. Bradley Rothnar 6-1, 6-0
4S. Evan Beck (G) def. Zach Van Duyn 6-3, 6-2
5S. Luke Rush (G) def. Levi Vick 6-1, 6-2
6S. Jacob Hopper (A) def. Ben Fox 3-6, 6-2, (10-6)
1D. Zuercher/Sharma (G) def. Gingerich/Hoppes 8-4
2D. Ciudad/Rush (G) def. Kimmerling/Rothnar 8-4
3D. Fox/Eric Cender (G) def. Van Duyn/Vick 8-5
Women: Anderson 9, Goshen 0
1S. Abby Kirkman (A) def. Noemi Salvador 7-5, 6-3
2S. Allison Newman (A) def. Joelle Friesen 6-3, 6-2
3S. Megan Moriarty (A) def. Kendra Lozano 6-3, 6-2
4S. Mandy Meserve (A) def. Chloe Woodward 6-1, 6-4
5S. Katie Kirkman (A) def. Chelsea Katchmazenski 6-0, 6-0
6S. Anderson by default
1D. Meserve/Newman (A) def. Salvador/Friesen 9-7
2D. Hannah Libler/A. Kirkman (A) def. Lozano/Woodward 8-5
3D. Anderson by default
