Defiance Men’s Tennis Falls at Lake Erie College

PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Yellow Jacket tennis squad dropped a road match to Lake Erie College on Thursday afternoon, as the Storm was just too much for the Purple and Gold in a 6-3 non-conference defeat.

The hosts managed to grab two-of-three doubles results, as the Storm won at the one and two positions with the Jackets duo of Justin Walker and Michael Vanderkolk winning at the three spot by a final of 8-4. 

After a 2-1 deficit after doubles play, Defiance needed to win four of the six remaining matches in singles. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the team came up two wins short, as Cord Speelman and Tyler Thiel were the only two players to win in singles for the Purple and Gold.

Speelman cruised in his match at the three position to a straight-set victory. The junior finished with a final of 6-3, 6-2. Thiel had a much tougher match, as the sophomore dropped the opening set 4-6, before rallying to take the second 6-3. In the third and decisive set, the two players battled to a score of 6-6 to set up a tiebreaker. Thiel prevailed in the breaker by a final of 7-5 to complete the comeback.

With the loss the Yellow Jackets fall to 5-9 on the season. The Purple and Gold return home for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference match against Transylvania on Saturday, April 20. The match is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.