Banner Elk, NC – Lees McRae College inflicted further misery to Coker Men’s Tennis on Sunday by defeating them 5-4. Despite an injury to Lees McRae’s top player, the reigning CVAC runners up still proved too strong for the visiting Coker Men’s tennis team and edged the victory by taking 4 singles matches.

Coker led 2-1 after doubles thanks to a good doubles performance from Matt Byford and Duncan Grew at number 1 doubles. Byford and Grew broke at 3-3 only for Lees McRae to break straight back. The pairs both held until 6-7 when Byford and Grew earned the vital break of serve to take an 8-6 victory.

Coker needed 3 more wins for the team win but fell one short. Lees McRae forfeited number 6 singles due to injury and Dustin Yager took control at number 5 singles as he won comfortable 6-0 6-3. Despite this, Coker couldn’t quite pull off the win as Lees McRae won at numbers one through four singles. Duncan Grew fell short at number 1 singles 6-3 6-4. Matt Byford came closest to earning Coker the victory but fell 7-6 6-4 in two very tight sets.

The heartbreak continues for the Coker men who now fall to 3-11 and 1-6 in the CVAC. Coker Men next play Erskine College at home on Monday, April 3^rd at 2.30pm.

Scores

1 Doubles: Byford/Grew (Coker) def. Sayag/Lord Andrade (Lees McRae)- 8-6

2 Doubles: Sutton/Valazguez (Lees McRae) def. Yager/Nash (Coker) – 8-5

3 Doubles: Morton/Thompson (Coker) def. (Lees McRae) – Forfeit

1 Singles: Gili Sayag (Lees McRae) def. Duncan Grew (Coker) – 6-3 6-4

2 Singles: Lord Andrade (Lees McRae) def. Matt Byford (Coker) – 7-6 6-4

3 Singles: Valazguez (Lees McRae) def. Tim Morton (Coker) –– 6-4 6-1

4 Singles: Tom Sutton (Lees McRae) def. Danny Nash (Coker) – 6-2 6-0

5 Singles: Dustin Yager (Coker) def. Johns (Lees McRae) – 6-0 6-3

6 Singles: Tyson Thompson (Coker) def. (Lees McRae) Forfeit

COKER 4

LEES MCRAE 5