Purple and Gold Tennis Places Third at Spring Tourney

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The DC men's tennis team hosted the Defiance Spring Tourney on Saturday, as the Jackets hosted Alma, Goshen and Bluffton at the invite. DC finished third out of the four teams, finishing with 20 points.

The tournament set up was not a conventional team-vs.-team match, but instead a flighted tournament. This means that each position played a four-team tournament, with first place earning four points, second place earning three points, etc.

Defiance qualified for the championship match in four of the nine positions and placed third in four others. The Jackets' two doubles combination of Craig Bills and Justin Walker won the first match of the day for DC, as the duo defeated Bluffton by a score of 8-4 before falling to Goshen in the final by a score of 8-3.

In singles action the Purple and Gold won three of its six first round matches. Number one singles player Ryan Nelson, two player Cord Speelman and Walker at the four spot were all victorious over Bluffton in straight-set victories to reach the finals and secure second place finishes.

The other Yellow Jacket singles players of Bills, Mike Vanderkolk and Tyler Thiel all dropped their first round match before rebounding and defeating Bluffton opponents in the consolation round.

Goshen College took the tournament crown by finishing with a total of 31 points. Alma took second place with 27 followed by Defiance with 20. Bluffton rounded out the teams with 11 points for the day.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Wednesday, March 27, as the Jackets head to Heidelberg for a match at 3:30 p.m.