Defiance Falls to Huntington

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College men's tennis team began it's 2017 spring season with a 7-2 loss against Huntington (Ind.) University in a non-conference dual match at the George M. Smart Center.

The lone points for Defiance (1-1) came in the doubles competition with victories at first and second doubles.  The duo of senior James DeMeo (Oregon/Clay) and junior Adam Swisher (Bedford, Mich./Bedford) needed a tie breaker to defeat their opponent at the first doubles slot, but went on to prevail by the score of 9-8 (11-9).  

Junior Eline Widman (Tiffin/Tiffin Columbian) and senior Brian Kurtz (Sandusky/Perkins) also needed extra points, but would also win their second doubles match, 9-7, and give DC a 2-1 match advantage heading into singles play.

Huntington (8-6) swept all six of the singles matches, but the closest match of the day came in at first singles with DeMeo forcing his opponent to go the distance to claim the win.  DeMeo claimed the first set, 6-4, but would drop the next two sets, 7-6 and 7-6.  

Swisher captured three points in his match at second singles, but would fall by the scores of 6-2 and 6-1.  Widman won three games in the first set of his third singles match with the final scores being 6-3 and 6-0 in favor of Huntington.  Kurtz tallied a point in each of his sets at fourth singles (6-1 and 6-1), while senior Nate Height (Wabash, Ind./Wabash) won a game in the first set at fifth singles (6-1 and 6-0). 

Rounding out the Yellow Jacket competitors in singles action was Fabelo at sixth singles and took three games from his opponent in the first set, but would ultimately fall by the scores of 6-3 and 6-0.

Defiance is next scheduled to host Alma (Mich.) College in another non-conference dual match on Tuesday, Feb. 28.  The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.