Junior Andy Bryan sets up for a return against Emory.
John Kauss looks for a forehand winner.
Charlie Paukert eyes the ball while preparing to hit the ball.
The Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis team closed out its run at the ITA Division III Men’s National Team Indoor Championships with a 6-3 loss to top-ranked Emory Sunday in the tournament’s third-place match.
Gustavus took a 3-0 lead after doubles as Jesse Brauer (Sr., Mankato, Minn./West) and Andy Bryan (Jr., Edina, Minn.) defeated Yoji Masuoka and Michael Goodwin 8-5 at No. 1 doubles, Mike Burdakin (So., Bettendorf, Iowa) and Charlie Paukert (So., Grand Forks, N.D.) defeated Hardy Ehlers and Michael Kaufman 8-5 at No. 2 doubles and Ben Tomasek (So., Oakdale, Minn./North St. Paul) and Nick Hansen (So., Duluth, Minn./East) defeated Oliver Lopp and Mark Boren 9-8 (5) at No. 3 doubles.
The Eagles closed the gap to 3-2 with victories by Goodwin over Bryan (6-2, 6-4) at No. 1 singles and Boren over John Kauss (So., St. Paul, Minn./Harding) (6-1, 6-3) at No. 3 singles and then drew even as Masuoka defeated Brauer 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 2 position. Emory extended its lead and secured the victory with a 6-3, 6-2 win by Lopp over Paukert at No. 5 singles and a 6-0, 6-3 win by Kaufman over Chad Olson (Jr., Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) at No. 6 singles. The Gusties best chance to pick up a point in singles play came at the No. 4 position, the final match to be completed. Mike Burdakin took the first set from Hardy Ehlers 6-3, but dropped the second set 7-5 and the third 7-6 (8) to end the dual.
Gustavus will host duals with Augustana (S.D.) and UW-Whitewater Saturday, while also sending a team to face St. Thomas in a MIAC dual.