Late Rally Gives Bulldogs 4-3 Win over Mercer
March 10, 2008 | Men's Tennis
The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team downed the Bears of Mercer,
4-3, after a late rally by Taylor Ferrier at the six spot. With the
match tied at 3-3, Ferrier notched five straight games in the third
set to take the set 7-5, and the match 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. The win
pushes the ‘Dogs to 2-2 in conference play.
Although the ‘Dogs finished strong, they did not start off so
hot. Mercer took the doubles point by winning all three of the
doubles matches. GWU's Andrew Veeder and Grant Van Rensburg fell at
the one spot 8-6, while the number two tandem of Evgeny Slesarev
and Joshua Ray did the same.
Mercer made it a perfect three when Ryan Bernthal and Jamie Lawlor
fell at the three spot 8-3.
The Bulldogs changed things around at the start of singles
competition as they took both the one and two spots.
Slesarev made short work of Mercer's Tobias Ohrstrom as he downed
the Bear 6-2, 6-3 at the one spot. GWU's number two Andrew Veeder
followed with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Justin Wimpee of Mercer to
tie the match at 2-2.
Mercer took a 3-2 lead after Van Rensburg fell at the five spot
4-6, 0-6.
However, Rafael Altmayer tied the match at 3-3 with a huge win over
Fernando Armendaris at the four spot. Altmayer lost the first set
2-6, but flipped the score in the second with a 6-2 win himself.
With the third set tied at 4-4 and facing a break point, Altmayer
stepped up and held serve to take a 5-4 lead. He then broke the
very next game to take the set 6-4, and the win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
With a 3-3 tie, the stage was set for GWU's lone senior Taylor
Ferrier and Mercer's Chapman Mitchell. Ferrier cruised in the first
set with a 6-2 win, but Mitchell answered right back in the second
with a 6-2 win of his own. By this time all eyes were on Ferrier
and Mitchell as they headed into the tiebreaker.
In the tiebreaker, Mitchell jumped out to a 5-2 lead and the Bears
seemed certain they would win the match. However, Ferrier had
different plans in mind. The co-captain fought off three match
points and knocked out five straight games to take the set 7-5, and
the match 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
It was a huge win for Ferrier and a good win for the Bulldogs. The
‘Dogs move to 2-2 in the A-Sun and will look to improve that
record in their match against Jacksonville on March 15. The match
will be held at the Webb Tennis Complex and it set to start at 11
a.m.
Gardner-Webb 4, Mercer 3
Singles competition
1. Evgeny Slesarev (GWU) def. Tobias Ohrstrom (MER) 6-2, 6-3
2. Andrew Veeder (GWU) def. Justin Wimpee (MER) 6-4, 6-3
3. Ivan Besancon (MER) def. Carlos Quijano (GWU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Rafael Altmayer (GWU) def. Fernando Armendaris (MER) 2-6, 6-2,
6-4
5. Matthew Poleon (MER) def. Grant VanRensburg (GWU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Taylor Ferrier (GWU) def. Chapman Mitchell (MER) 6-2, 2-6,
7-5
Doubles competition
1. Tobias Ohrstrom/Chapman Mitchell (MER) def. Andrew Veeder/Grant
VanRensburg (GWU) 8-6
2. Fernando Armendaris/Ivan Besancon (MER) def. Evgeny
Siesarev/Joshua Ray (GWU) 8-6
3. Ryan Ingram/Justin Wimpee (MER) def. Ryan Rernthal/Jamie Lawlor
(GWU) 8-3
| Individual Stats |
| Facts and Stats |
| Box Score |
| Team Stats |
