CofC Cougars Edge Presbyterian In Close-Fought Match

CLINTON, SC Feb. 9, 2013 – The College of Charleston men’s tennis team narrowly avoided defeat this afternoon when they squeezed by with a 4-3 victory over Presbyterian College at the Templeton Tennis Center in Clinton, S.C.

The doubles duo of senior Billy Kenny (Pawley’s Island, S.C.) and freshman Zack Lewis (Richmond, Ky.) kicked off the day for the Cougars (2-1) by winning their match 8-5 over Gonzalo Asis and Nathan Crocker of Presbyterian in the No. 3 position. Junior Brice Allanic (Colombes, France) and sophomore Sebastian Lopez (Medellin, Colombia) then managed to clinch the doubles point for the College by topping Presbyterian’s Rafael Berghaus and Grayson Mills 8-4 in the No. 1 slot.

In singles play, the Cougars got off to a slow start when Presbyterian’s Danny Bruce defeated Zack Lewis 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 5 position. However, CofC rallied back behind wins by Allanic in the No. 1 slot and sophomore Charlie Ghriskey (Mount Kisco, N.Y) in No. 4 singles. Then, Lopez clinched the match for the Cougars when he overcame William O’Connell of Presbyterian 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 2 slot. Lopez’s win was especially key because the other two CofC singles players were in close matches that could have gone either way.

“Presbyterian was well-coached and played tough,” CofC Head Coach Jay Bruner said. “Our guys worked well together and had chances in every match. When we didn’t play well, we found a way to compete. Brice (Allanic) and Sebastian (Lopez) stepped up today and played solid tennis. It was good teamwork overall and a good start to the weekend.”

The Cougars will now travel to North Carolina for their match against UNC Charlotte (2-4) tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. (ET) at the Halton-Wagner Tennis Complex in Charlotte, N.C.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 4, UNC CHARLOTTE 3

February 9, 2013

Templeton Tennis Center

at Clinton, S.C.

Attendance: 62

SINGLES

No. 1 – Brice Allanic (CofC) def. Grayson Mills (PC), 6-1, 6-3.

No. 2 – Sebastian Lopez (CofC) def. William O’Connell (PC), 6-3, 6-1.

No. 3 – Rafael Berghaus (PC) def. Crescente Lesser (CofC), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8).

No. 4 – Charlie Ghriskey (CofC) def. Andrew Brigham (PC), 6-1, 6-3.

No. 5 – Danny Bruce (PC) def. Zack Lewis (CofC), 6-1, 6-2.

No. 6 – Gonzalo Asis (PC) def. Alon Faiman (CofC), 7-6, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3).

DOUBLES

No. 1 – Brice Allanic-Sebastian Lopez (CofC) def. Rafael Berghaus-Grayson Mills (PC), 8-5.

No. 2 – Andrew Brigham-William O’Connell (PC) vs. Charlie Ghriskey-Alon Faiman (CofC), unfinished.

No. 3 – Billy Kenny-Zack Lewis (CofC) def. Gonzalo Asis-Nathan Crocker (PC), 8-4.

ORDER OF FINISH

Doubles: 3, 1

Singles: 5, 1, 4, 2*, 3, 6