XML Box Score OWINGS MILLS, MD. - The Messiah men's tennis team gave the Mustangs all they could handle but fell short in a 5-1 defeat in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal this afternoon.
Messiah split courts two and three doubles, claiming No. 3 doubles in a battle 8-5. Then, a tiebreak on court one doubles separated a 2-1 lead from a 1-2 deficit heading to singles. The Mustangs prevailed in the tiebreak and took the 2-1 edge into singles.
Needing only three courts to win, Stevenson took courts three, six and two to clinch the match 5-1 to send Stevenson to the MAC Commonwealth final.
The loss ends the Falcons season, capping off the season with an even 8-8 record.
Doubles
In similar fashion to the first matchup, Stevenson took court two doubles where Baker/Gingerich fell 3-8 while the third team of Anderson/Niemi prevailed 8-5 in a close pro-set. Niemi/Anderson opened up an early 5-2 lead before Stevenson closed the gap to 5-5 before Messiah finished out the set strong for the 8-5 win.
It was the tale of two stories on court one doubles where Wilson/Rose fought against Johnson III/Bonta. It was Stevenson who capitalized on a lot of unforced errors from the Falcons early, generating a commanding 5-0 lead after the sluggish start from the Falcons. That is when the match started to turn.
It all started with a service hold from Wilson as the Falcons clawed their way back into the match in an emphatic way. Wilson/Rose found a groove and gained all the momentum as they rolled through the next seven straight games to take a 7-5 lead late in the pro-set. With their backs against the wall, the Mustangs answered with a service hold and then converted a critical break to send the match to a tiebreak.
After losing the first point, the Falcons answered back before it was Stevenson who took the lead back at 2-1. From there the Falcons overtook the Mustangs for a 3-2 advantage. At the changeover, it would all tied up at 3-3. Messiah continued taking the lead just as much as Stevenson would answer back, knotting the game at 4-4, 5-5 before Messiah once again took the lead at 6-5 to set up a match point. Stevenson fought that off as well to prompt another changeover at 6-6.
Stevenson won the next two points to take the tiebreak 8-6 to take the match 8-7(6). It would give the Mustangs a lot of momentum as they took a 2-1 lead into singles action.
Singles
The Falcons had some quality looks in singles, converting three first set victories via Chase Wilson (No. 1), Michael Niemi (No. 4) and Jonathan Baker (No. 5). However it was three straight set wins for the Mustangs on courts three, six and two that ended the Falcon season late in the afternoon.
Josh Gingerich fell on court three 1-6, 0-6 while Carl Anderson fought in a back and forth affair on court six. Anderson dropped the first set 4-6 and found himself down 1-5 in the second before winning three straight games to bring the match to within one. Stevenson would close out that match for the 6-4, 6-4 win for the fourth point of the afternoon.
Minutes later, Connor Rose was the last Falcon to fall, dropping his match at the No. 2 position. Rose battled but ultimately fell 3-6, 2-6. It was the fifth point of the day for Stevenson, clinching the match for the Mustangs and putting a prompt stoppage to the remaining matches.
Those other three matches would be left unfinished as No. 1 Chase Wilson led 6-3, 2-3, No. 4 Michael Niemi led 6-4, 2-3 in his match and Jonathan Baker led 6-4, 2-5 on court five.
Wrapping up the Season
The loss marks an end to the Falcons season as they finished with an 8-8 overall record.
The No. 2 Stevenson Mustangs will advance to the MAC Championship on Saturday, April 29, to face the No. 1 Lebanon Valley Dutchmen. Lebanon Valley won 5-0 over York College earlier this afternoon to clinch their spot in the MAC Commonwealth championship.
