Men’s Tennis Cruises To Three MIAC Victories

The Gustavus men’s tennis team proved its value in the MIAC Saturday with three convincing victories over Concordia (9-0), Bethel (8-1) and Macalester (9-0) in St. Peter, Minn. The three wins improve the Gusties to 5-2 overall and 5-0 in the MIAC. Gustavus won 17-of-18 singles competitions in straight sets and all nine doubles matches on the day.

Concordia – Head Coach Tommy Valentini’s squad opened the day with a 9-0 victory over Concordia. The Gusties cruised to straight set victories in all six singles matches with no player dropping more than four games in a set. In doubles competition, Gustavus dominated as well in all three matches by not allowing the Cobbers to more than four victories in the set.

Singles Competition

1. Amrik Donkena (GAC) def. Brian Olson (CC) 6-2, 6-4

2. Joey MacGibbon (GAC) def. Devin Larson (CC) 6-2, 6-0

3. Daniel Pomeranc (GAC) def. Chad Smith (CC) 6-0, 6-2

4. Motasem Al Houni (GAC) def. Will Granrud (CC) 6-2, 6-1

5. Ryan Hallsten (GAC) def. Kevin Schwandt (CC) 6-1, 6-0

6. Bryan Miles (GAC) def. Peter Dahlberg (CC) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles Competition

1. Amrik Donkena/Mya Smith-Dennis (GAC) def. Brian Olson/Devin Larson (CC) 8-2

2. Daniel Pomeranc/Joey MacGibbon (GAC) def. Chad Smith/Kevin Schwandt (CC) 8-4

3. Brooks Stapleton/Ryan Hallsten (GAC) def. Will Granrud/Peter Dahlberg (CC) 8-2

Bethel – The Three Crowns followed their strong morning display over Concordia with another strong showing against Bethel. Coach Valentini’s squad showed its depth with nine different players in action for an 8-1 win over the Royals. The lone loss came at the No. 2 singles spot as Bethel’s Kent Nichols defeated Marcel Gyswyt 6-0, 6-4. In their five singles victories, the Gusties dropped no more than four games in a set and fell just twice in each of the doubles matches.

Singles Competition

1. Juan Luis Chu (GAC) def. Tucker Morris (BU) 6-0, 6-4

2. Kent Nichols (BU) def. Marcel Gyswyt (GAC) 6-0, 6-4

3. Tyler Johnson (GAC) def. Reggie Ronning (BU) 6-1, 6-2

4. Bradley Entwistle (GAC) def. Bryce Johnson (BU) 6-1, 6-1

5. Logan Peterson (GAC) def. Steven Schull (BU) 6-4, 6-0

6. Connor Illies (GAC) def. Kirby Ronning (BU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles Competition

1. Patrick Clark/Tyler Johnson (GAC) def. Kent Nichols/Reggie Ronning (BU) 8-2

2. Marcel Gyswyt/Juan Luis Chu (GAC) def. Tucker Morris/Steven Schull (BU) 8-2

3. Daniel Pomeranc/Joey MacGibbon (GAC) def. Bryce Johnson/Kirby Ronning (BU) 8-2

Macalester – To cap off the day, the Gustie men shut out Macalester 9-0 for their third victory of the day. Gustavus had its best performance in the singles competition, dropping no more than three games in a set. In doubles competition, Macalester was only able to muster four games in the No. 1 set and three each in the No. 2 and 3 spots.

Singles Competition

1. Amrik Donkena (GAC) def. Chris Fowler (MAC) 6-3, 6-1

2. Mya Smith-Dennis (GAC) def. Stephen Tyndel (MAC) 6-1, 6-3

3. Juan Luis Chu (GAC) def. Evan Elderbrock (MAC) 6-3, 6-2

4. Patrick Clark (GAC) def. Max Edwards (MAC) 6-3, 6-2

5. Tyler Johnson (GAC) def. Lewis Wilcox (MAC) 6-1, 6-0

6. Joey MacGibbon (GAC) def. Max Soghikian (MAC) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition

1. Amrik Donkena/Mya Smith-Dennis (GAC) def. Stephen Tyndel/Lewis Wilcox (MAC) 8-4

2. Patrick Clark/Tyler Johnson (GAC) def. Chris Fowler/Evan Elderbrock (MAC) 8-3

3. Bradley Entwistle/Grant Leisner (GAC) def. Max Edwards/Max Soghikian (MAC) 8-3

Next weekend, the Gusties will host the 2012 ITA National Indoor Championships at the Swanson Tennis Center. The Championships will run from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26.

Photo Gallery