Yellow Jackets’ Season Ends in Rain-Shortened Loss

HANOVER, Ind. – The Defiance College men's tennis team played its regular season finale on Saturday afternoon on the road against Hanover College. The match was shortened due to rain and DC lost by a score of 5-2.

The Jackets got off to a strong start in the match, as DC won two of three doubles matches to take an early 2-1 advantage. At the number one position, senior Trevor Ault and freshman Ryan Nelson pulled off a miraculous comeback to win. The pair was down 7-1 in the eight game pro-set and managed to reel off eight straight games for a 9-7 comeback victory.

The Jackets also won at three doubles in a close match. Senior Austin Gray and freshman Justin Walker won 8-6. With the win, the tandem close out the season on a seven match win streak and an overall record of 12-4 at the three spot, including a 7-1 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference mark.

After jumping out to a 2-1 lead, the Purple and Gold were unable to keep the momentum going in singles play. Defiance was held winless in the four singles matches that reached their conclusion and lost all four in straight sets. Ault and Nelson both had a shot at winning when their matches were stopped due to the weather. Ault dropped the first set and fought back to win the second by a score of 6-3, and Nelson was in a position to close out the second set after losing the first.

With the win in doubles, Ault ends his Yellow Jacket career with the most victories of any DC men's tennis player in program history with 105. The previous record was held by his brother, Tyler, at 102.

The loss ends the season for the Yellow Jackets, who finished with an overall record of 7-16 and an HCAC mark of 2-7.