CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Coming off another set of Southern Athletic Association (SAA) weekly honors on Monday, the Centre men's tennis team (13-10, 4-3 SAA) took the fourth seed in the 2023 SAA Men's Tennis Tournament and faced off against fifth-seeded Berry Vikings on Friday. The two teams rematched and ended with similar results to their regular season meetup, Centre emerging on top on a final score of 5-2.
The Gold & White's no. 1 series was the only match not to include extras in the doubles portion of the contest,
Bo Bush and
Ty Bush collecting another win on the year in the close 8-6 victory.
Faraz Ghamgosar and
Ben Rueff combined with their ninth win in a row as a pair, taking down the Vikings' no. 2 competitors on a tight 8-7 (5) final score. The third series that took place would fall in favor of Berry,
Chase Turley and
Ashton Whitt coming close but just short in the 8-7 (4) loss.
With the Colonels up 2-1 after doubles, Berry started off strong by securing their second team point at the no. 1 versus Ghamgosar on a 6-1, 6-1 score. Centre would respond with a knockout blow to the Vikings, rattling off three-straight singles wins to secure the team victory.
Bo Bush finished first, the junior sweeping his no. 3 opponent in the second set with a 6-2, 6-0 final score. Whitt followed suit on a 6-3, 6-4 win, controlling the no. 5 slot in the lineup. Rueff posted the checkmate to the Vikings in his no. 4 singles match, pushing a strong 6-3, 6-3 set to send the Gold & White to the semifinals.
Centre had two series left unfinished due to the two programs deciding to play until decision,
Ty Bush amassing a comeback in the second set before being called off 4-6, 5-3. Jet Anderson was the final series, coming close to closing another victory on the year in his 7-5, 4-3 score in the no. 6 spot of the order.
The Colonels will be back in action in the bracket's semifinal match on Saturday, April 29, Centre taking on top-seed Sewanee for their second-straight season meeting up in the tournament. That game is set to have a 1 p.m. ET kick off down south in Chattanooga, Tenn.
