DANVILLE, Ky. – In the first of back-to-back nights competing on their home courts, the Centre men's tennis team (7-9) hosted the Asbury Eagles (8-3) on Thursday night. The two teams battled it out in the Seabury Family Tennis Center, the home squad in Gold & White emerging on top in a thrilling 5-4 final score.
The Colonels were able to snag a quick lead after the doubles matches, gaining a leg up on the Eagles by winning two of the three series.
Faraz Ghamgosar and
Ben Rueff collected their third win in a row as a team in the no. 2 slot of the lineup, the duo winning a close 8-6 battle. The no. 3 doubles series held a similar score of 8-6, Centre taking that win in the first half of the contest by way of
Jasper Gazzo and
Ashton Whitt. Although
Ty Bush and
Chase Turley wouldn't collect a third point for the Gold & White in their no. 1 series, a neck-and-neck fight that fell in an 8-7 (6) final mark.
The Eagles garnered momentum in the singles matches, winning the first three singles matches that took place in the contest. Ghamgosar fell 6-2, 6-2 in the no. 1 spot of the lineup, Bush getting closer but still losing off a final score of 6-3, 6-2 in the no. 2 order. Whitt put together a strong start for the Colonels in the no. 3 singles match, but would be overcome late in the 6-7, 6-3, 10-5 loss.
The score being 4-2 in Asbury's favor, the Colonels needed to put together three-straight singles wins to close out the match with their seventh team victory of the season. Rueff was the first to conclude at the no. 4 spot of the lineup, sparking the comeback off an 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 victory.
Jett Anderson earned his ninth singles victory of the season to tie the match 4-4 with his win in the no. 5 slot of the order, pushing the tight victory on the 7-5, 7-5 final score. The result of the match came down to Gazzo in the no. 6 spot, the sophomore put together one of his most dominant performances of the season to beat his Eagles opponent 6-2, 6-1.
The Gold & White will quickly end their celebration before stepping up to their next opponent on Friday, April 7, hosting the Maryville Scots in Kentucky. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
