ORLANDO, Fla. – The newly No. 1-ranked Greyhounds played their first match as the top dog in the country in sunny Orlando, Fla., battling the best team in division III in the Case Western Spartans. The Spartans are no stranger to top Division II foes, having downed No. 3-ranked Barry just a day prior. However, the Hounds did not fall victim to the Spartans, taking a 5-2 victory behind five singles victories.
INS AND OUTS
Despite having the No. 1 doubles pairing in the country in
Tom Zeuch and
Edgar Destouet leading off, the Spartans jumped out on the Hounds, taking wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, putting the top-ranked Greyhounds in an early deficit.
UIndy, who is no stranger to having their back against the wall, was forced to rally back in singles action.
Louis Picaud was the first to strike, evening up the match score with a 6-2, 6-2 straight sets victory.
August Ehrnrooth was not far behind his doubles partner, giving the Hounds a 2-1 lead after a No. 6-singles slot win. The fire that is the Hounds did not dim from there, as No. 9-ranked Destouet put the Hounds within one after enduring a grueling first set to win 7-5, 6-2.
The Spartans refused to roll over, picking up a win out of the No. 5 slot versus
Thomas Mathis, with the second set coming via tiebreak. That was the last points the DIII No. 1 scored with Zeuch and
Nikolaj Talimaa closing out the match with wins at No. 2 and No. 3.
UP NEXT
The schedule doesn't get much easier for the Hounds, with a rematch of the ITA Indoors set to be played on Thursday, March 16. at the home courts of Saint Leo. Action is set to begin at 11 am.
