Defiance buzzes past Wasps in first match at Hilton Head

HILTON HEAD, S.C. – The Purple and Gold men's tennis squad got its spring break trip started on high note, as it stung the Emory & Henry Wasps for a 5-4 victory Sunday afternoon and extended its winning streak to three matches.

To get action underway, DC (3-1, 1-0 HCAC) got ahead early by taking two of the three doubles matches. In first doubles senior Mike Ross (Bryan, Ohio / Bryan) and junior Ryan Nelson (Oregon, Ohio / Clay) notched their third win of the season by a score of 8-4.

Then after the Jackets fell in second doubles, the freshman tandem of James Demeo (Oregon, Ohio / Clay) and Tory Savage (Bryan, Ohio / Bryan) came from behind to take the third doubles match in thrilling fashion. The duo was down 2-6 early, but ran off the next six sets to win 8-6.

In singles competition, Defiance's Ross and fellow senior Cord Speelman (Bryan, Ohio / Bryan) were bested in the first two singles matches. But the Purple and Gold took third through fifth singles to edge out the victory over Emory & Henry.

It was not an easy task for DC though. Nelson took his third singles match into three sets to grab the win. After winning the first set 6-4, the Clay High product dropped the second 4-6. And in an exciting third frame, Nelson came out on top 10-8 to record his third victory of the year in singles play.

Demeo then remained perfect in 2014 singles competition, as he took down the Wasps Luke Funkhouser 6-3, 6-4 in fourth singles.

Finally, junior Justin Walker (Oak Harbor, Ohio / Hunt) sealed the 5-4 win for the Yellow Jackets by pulling out a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the fifth singles match.

Defiance will be back in action tomorrow March 10 at 2:30 p.m. to battle the Wittenberg Tigers of the North Coast Athletic Conference.