Mares Wins but Scots Drop Opening Tennis Matches

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill (09/16/2024) — The Monmouth College men's tennis team played their first matches of the fall on Sunday with two losses in Iowa. With three newcomers in the lineup, the Scots started the day with a 7-0 loss to Buena Vista before a 5-2 loss to Simpson.

Against Simpson, Monmouth won the doubles point with wins at #2 and #3 doubles. Spencer Corn (Kansas City, Missouri) and Andrew Nickols (Janesville, Wisconsin) won 6-2 at #2 doubles. Macaden Sepich (Mackinaw, Illinois) and freshman Alfonso Mares (Oak Lawn, Illinois) won 6-3 at #3. The freshmen team of Matthew Savage (Washington, Illinois) and Antonio Perez (St. George, Utah) lost 6-1 at #1 doubles.

Savage lost at #1 singles 6-4, 6-2 while Perez retired due to injury in the second set at #2 singles. Sepich lost 6-2, 6-1 at #3, Nickols lost 6-0, 6-2 at #4 and Corn lost a third-set tiebreaker at #5. Mares picked up his first career singles win at #6 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

"We put out a great effort on an extremely hot day," said head coach Brian Dahlstrom. "I was impressed how our team competed against Simpson in the second match of the day. It was really great to see Alfonso get his first wins."

Against Buena Vista, the doubles point went to the Beavers with 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1 wins. Sepich and Mares won one game at #3 doubles.

Buena Vista swept the singles matches. Savage and Perez both won five games in their matches. Savage fell 6-3, 6-2 at #1 and Perez lost 6-4, 6-1 at #2.

The Scots will play on Sunday at Elmhurst.

NOTE: Buena Vista did not provide a box score.