MARION, IN - With everything on the line in the Semi-Finals
of the Crossroads League Tournament, Spring Arbor University's men's tennis
team went on the road to the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University. The Cougars prevailed for the second time in
Marion with a come from behind thriller 5-3 to earn a spot in the finals
against Grace College on Saturday.
The #1 seeded Wildcats were 13-1 entering the match with the
only loss being delivered by Spring Arbor just a few weeks ago. Spring Arbor, the fourth seed, suffered losses
early in the season to Grace College and Marian University (both losses were
5-4).
Spring Arbor fell behind early losing two of the three
doubles matches with the only doubles win coming from Thomas Calderone and
Aaron Mayes winning 8-4 at one doubles.
The freshmen tandem of John Hall and Jesse DeBoer lost at
three doubles by an 8-4 margin. But
David Darling and Nate Scholten lost a tough match by the score of 9-8 (7-3
tie-breaker) as SAU fell behind 2-1 heading into singles action.
Needing to win four of the six singles matches for the win,
the Cougars had their backs against the wall and came out swinging. Nathan Scholten, Aaron Mayes, and David Darling
all won in straight sets to lift the Cougars to a 4-2 lead, but at about the
same time, Michael Darling lost his match in straight sets to cut into the lead
4-3 with two matches remaining on the courts.
Thomas Calderone was in a dead heat at #1 singles dropping
the first set 3-6, but winning the second set 6-3. Down 2-3 (on serve) in the third set, and
with the game score at 30-30, Calderone heard a friendly roar nearby and knew
what that meant. Matt Wojtkowski
outlasted Brook Ayers at six singles 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 and winning his match with
an emphatic ace, much to the delight of his teammates to secure the fifth point
and send Spring Arbor to the finals.
With no reason to continue the match at one singles, Calderone
and the Wildcat's Kyle Johnson shook hands and halted play.
The Cougars will now face Grace College on Saturday in
Winona Lake. Grace (#2 seed) is the higher seed. The time is yet to be determined, but check
the website as it will be posted as soon as it is available.
