CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Men's Tennis concluded their first fall tournament of the season this weekend, competing in the Stockton Cup in Charlotte, N.C. Transfer
Kim Neithammar emerged as one of the top players in the event, pciking up four victories before losing in a three-set battle in the third-place match on Sunday.
"Overall, it was a good beginning to our season," said Head Coach
Mike Griffith. "I was impressed with Kim's play and him being able to showcase his true abilities this week against high-level competition. We found us a good one in him, and I am ready to see him, and the rest of the guys play again in two weeks."
Niethammar picked up four wins in singles for his fourth-place finish. He advanced to the semifinals after defeating Ivan Dreycopp 7-6 (5), 4-6, 10-7. Dreycopp plays at Charlotte and is currently the #2 U19 player from Argentina. Neithammar lost in the semifinals to Bekhzod Rasamatov, the eventual champion in straight sets. He bounced back to play Jared Hiltzik in the 3/4 match, winning the first set but dropping the next two to the former player on the ATP tour and three-time All-American at Illinois (2014-2016).
Connor Enslin,
Victor Putter, and
Alex Lepine each had two wins during the weekend to advance to the round of 16.
Numa Lemieux-Monette,
Chrisjan Van Wyk, and
Eduardo Dias each picked up a singles win.
Cathal Butler dropped his opening match and was put in the back draw for the tournament. He collected wins in all three of his matches, two by straight-set victories, the other by opponent retirement.
Enslin and Neithammar paired together and collected two wins in their action. Lepine and Butler partnered for two wins, including one over the GWU duo of Enslin and Neithammar in the quarterfinals. Lepine and Butler had their tournament run end in the semifinals in straight sets. Lemieux-Monette and Dias had a strong 6-0, 6-1 win after a first-round bye to advance to the quarterfinals as well.
Gardner-Webb has its next competition the weekend of Friday, September 16 at the UNCG Fall Invite.
