LINDSBORG, Kan. – Sterling College men’s tennis started out the fall season strong and showed grit, battling through heat and weather delays. In singles play, the Warriors posted a runner-up finish, three third-place finishes, and a consolation bracket. Five freshmen made their Warrior debut at the tournament and all five came away with their first collegiate win.
Fernando Vargas represented the Warriors in the Singles Draw A division where he took on Tabor College’s Souhaib Safi in the opening round, defeating his opponent 8-7 (2). Vargas then faced Doane University’s Mats Vervloet in the semi final round but came up short 8-4. He then claimed the third-place title after Tabor’s Rayane Sanhaji withdrew.
Phil Fleischer made his Sterling debut in the Singles Draw B division facing a tough match up in the opening round against Doane’s Pablo Prieto Pelaez, losing 8-4. Fleischer then faced Ayden Johnson from Kansas Wesleyan University losing in a 6-4 battle.
In the Singles Draw C division, Jorge Garcia opened up with an 8-4 win over Baker University’s Corvin Christ before falling to Bethany College’s Diego Bsereni, 8-0 in the semi-final round. Garcia bounced back with a third-place finish after Tabor’s Joao Sa withdrew.
Raul Barba also made his Warrior debut in the Singles Draw D bracket where he won his opening match against Southwestern College’s Jackson Davis, 8-1. However, Barba came up short in the semi-final round against Doane’s Lancelot de Pierpont in a closely contested 8-6 battle. He then claimed the third-place title after Santiago Stipanov of Bethany College withdrew from the match.
In the Singles Draw F division, Camilo Hoguet started the tournament with an 8-6 loss to Bethany’s Pedro Melo. He bounced back in the next round with a win over Doane’s Tanner Adams, 7-5 and went on to win the consolation bracket with a victory over Cohen Waller of the University of Saint Mary.
Fynn Ebenig represented the Warriors in the Singles Draw I division and started out the day with an 8-0 victory over Kansas Wesleyan’s Dax Henderson. He followed it up with a win over Adam Champagne from Saint Mary. However, Ebenig came up short in the championship match against Doane’s Julio Avila, 8-6.
In doubles play, Vargas and Fleischer teamed up in the Doubles Draw A division. They started the day with a 9-8 (5) win over Tabor’s Safi and Sanhaji but came up short in the semi-final round against Bethany’s Sebastian Stipanov and Gustavo Cardoso, 8-5. Due to heat, the pair was unable to play the third-place match.
Pavia and Barba also competed in doubles play in the Doubles Draw C division. The team started with a 8-4 win over Kansas Wesleyan’s Lucas Gomez Giraldo and Porter Anderson before pulling out of the semi-final match against Doane’s Jamie Asiaian Banzo and Miles Mollring due to injury.
The Warriors will be back in action on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19 in Lindsborg, Kan. for the KCAC Fall Individual Championship.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
