Thresher tennis teams fall to nationally ranked McPherson
Thresher tennis teams fall to nationally ranked McPherson
Both teams move to 4-1 in conference play with the results.
The Thresher tennis teams took on McPherson on Thursday where both teams fell.The McPherson men were ranked no. 18 in the NAIA Polls and the women were receiving votes, giving Bethel it’s first conference losses of the season.
On the women’s side, McPherson swiftly took care of business starting with doubles. Halle Krehbiel and Daniela Casique lost 6-2 at #1, Nalea Payton and Patty Huerta lost 6-3 at the #2 spot and Grace Dawes and Charis Yager lost 6-3 as well at #3.
After winning all three doubles matches, the Bulldogs didn't hold back and continued their momentum over the Threshers in singles. At #2 singles Dawes 2-6, 2-6. Then at #3, Krehbiel lost 2-6, 2-6. The next match to finish was at #5 played by Payton, who fell 3-6, 4-6. Huerta lost at #6 0-6, 2-6. The closest matches were at #1 singles played by Casique who fell 6-3, 6-7(1), 4-6 and #4 singles played by Jenna Mahoney who fell also in three sets, 6-3, 0-6, 1-6. The women ended up taking an 0-7 loss and are now 4-1 in conference play.
“Overall yesterday was tough to end with a loss but was a good step for us as a team and finding our identity for the rest of the season,” said Mahoney from Gardner. “We learned how to just rely on each other and really work as a team throughout every match.”
On the men’s side, the Threshers started strong in doubles after a win at #2 doubles first from Petr Kollar and Tomas Quercia, 6-2. After a tough loss at #1 doubles from Michael Cech and Milan Bucek, 3-6, it came down to the #3 doubles team of Jonah Bergeron and Rodrigo Sanchez who ended up pulling out the doubles point with a 7-5 win to take an early lead of 1-0.
The Threshers weren’t done as they set to take the #2 singles match as Cech won 6-3, 6-1, giving the men a 2-0 lead. After that, the Threshers fell down a little, losing at #3 from Quercia, 1-6, 3-6, at #4 singles from Kollar 2-6, 1-6, and #1 singles from Bucek 3-6, 6-3, 4-6. The momentum turned after winning at the #5 spot from Sanchez 6-3, 6-4, bringing the score in the dual to 3-3. It then came down to the #6 singles match where Bergeron eventually fell 1-6, 3-6, and the Threshers took their first loss in conference play, 3-4.
“Although we were in a position of the underdog, we came out there and showed them how strong Bethel College’s tennis team could really be,” said Cech from Modlany, Czech Republic. “Honestly, I just wanted to show the team that we could win, and that's what pushed me to win in singles. I was extremely happy with my game and how everyone competed. The energy was unmatched. We will keep our heads up and focus on our upcoming matches, especially the one against Ottawa next week which is really important for us.”
With both teams losing their first conference match in tight losses, they look to refocus for their coming matches.
“Starting with the men's side, the McPherson men have been at the top of the conference for many years now,” head coach Gabe Johnson said. “Yesterday was an indication of how far this program has come over the last few years and how hard the guys on this team have worked. You know, we returned a lot of experience I think from the last couple years both from guys contributing on and off the court and so I feel like this team is very motivated and locked into what it takes to ascend to that next level of college tennis program.
“On the women's side I don't think that the final dual match score indicates how well they competed and fought at each spot in the lineup and lost a couple three setters in singles. I think we're right there on the doubles court competing pretty well. I think it was okay for us to maybe feel a little disappointed that we didn't come up with more matches or a win for the team but definitely shouldn't be discouraged knowing that I think we competed well and talent wise that we hung tough in every spot so I don't want it to discourage us from the fact that I think we are competing well with one of the best teams in conference, and in the region.”
After many postponements, the Thresher tennis teams will be back in action on Tuesday at 11 a.m. where they will take on Saint Mary at the Ward Tennis Center and look to bounce back.