Defiance Begins HCAC Play with Two Wins

CINCINNATI, Ohio – After winning its last four matches during its spring trip to Hilton Head, S.C., the Defiance College men's tennis team headed north hoping to continue its winning ways. The Jackets did just that on Saturday, opening league play with wins over Mount St. Joseph and Franklin.

DC had no trouble at all with the host MSJ squad, dispatching the Lions by a 6-0 count and winning all six singles matches in straight sets. Tyler Ault got things started with a 7-6, 6-0 win at No. 1 over Kyle Smith and Austin Kleman topped Price Combs at No. 2 by a 6-0, 6-2 count. Trevor Ault, Lachmond Bratton, Aaron Cottos and Austin Gray then each posted 6-0, 6-0 wins in the remaining competitions.

The action picked up in the second match of the afternoon, as Defiance squared off with Franklin on the neutral courts. DC turned to its top doubles tandem of Tyler Ault and Adam Fausey to set the tone with a convincing, 8-0, win. The Jackets dropped an 8-5 decision at No. 2 doubles but returned the favor behind an 8-5 victory from Trevor Ault and Bratton in the No. 3 matchup.

Tim Kurtz, Fausey and Trevor Ault each earned straight-set wins in their singles contests, while Kleman pulled out a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win over Jace Redman at No. 3 to secure the 6-3 team win for Defiance.

The wins move DC to 8-3 overall and extend its current win streak to six-straight matches. The Jackets also move to 2-0 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and join Hanover and Transylvania as the three remaining unbeaten teams in league play.

Defiance will have some time off before returning to action on April 4 at Rose-Hulman. DC will take on Hanover at 11:00 am and play the host Engineers at 1:00 pm. 

Defiance def. Mount St. Joseph; 6-0

No Doubles

Singles
No. 1 – Tyler Ault (DC) def. Kyle Smith; 7-5, 6-0
No. 2 – Austin Kleman (DC) def. Price Combs; 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 – Trevor Ault (DC) def. Tim Moody; 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 – Lachmond Bratton (DC) def. Ryan Tarvin; 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 – Aaron Cottos (DC) def. Dustin Hinken; 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 – Austin Gray (DC) def. Alex Schlake; 6-0, 6-0

Defiance def. Franklin; 6-3

Doubles
No. 1 – Ty.Ault/Fausey (DC) def. Kelly/Moran; 8-0
No. 2 – Hamm/Moran (FC) def. Kurtz/Kleman; 8-5
No. 3 – Tr. Ault/Bratton (DC) def. Beeson/Redman; 8-5

Singles
No. 1 – Matt Hamm (FC) def. Tyler Ault; 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – Tim Kurtz (DC) def. Nathanael Kelly; 7-6, 7-6
No. 3 – Austin Kleman (DC) def. Jace Redman; 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
No. 4 – Adam Fausey (DC) def. Justin Smith; 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 – Trevor Ault (DC) def. Brandon Roberts; 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 – Ben Ahlbrand (FC) def. Lachmond Bratton; 6-4, 6-0