MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University men's tennis team dropped a tightly contested 4-3 decision to Bethel University on Saturday in Crossroads League action.
 
With the result, the Cougars move to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
Spring Arbor got off to a strong start by securing the doubles point, winning two of the three matches. Jaume Riera Galindo and Daniel Rodriguez Fortes earned a 6-3 win at No. 1, while Aziz Madatov and MacKinley McNalley followed with a 7-5 victory at No. 2.
 
In singles play, the Cougars picked up wins at the top and bottom of the lineup. Madatov delivered a strong 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 1, and Caleb Kaytar battled to a 2-6, 6-3, 13-11 win at No. 6.
 
Despite the early advantage, Bethel secured four singles victories to edge out the narrow win.
 
 
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spring Arbor 3, Bethel 4
LOCATION: Mishawaka, Ind. | Ward Baker Park
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 7-7 (1-2 CL), Bethel 5-1 (2-1 CL)
 
 
THE RESULTS
Doubles
1. Jaume Riera Galindo / Daniel Rodriguez Fortes (SAU) def. Dimitar Berdankov / Lukas Slivar (BU) 6-3
2. Aziz Madatov / MacKinley McNalley (SAU) def. Aidyn Batyrbekov / Santiago Flores (BU) 7-5
3. Atanas Ivanov / Ostap Talama (BU) def. Miguel Carvalho / Caleb Kaytar (SAU) 6-3
 
Singles
1. Aziz Madatov (SAU) def. Dimitar Berdankov (BU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Aidyn Batyrbekov (BU) def. Jaume Riera Galindo (SAU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
3. Atanas Ivanov (BU) def. Daniel Rodriguez Fortes (SAU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
4. Lukas Slivar (BU) def. Miguel Carvalho (SAU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Ostap Talama (BU) def. MacKinley McNalley (SAU) 6-4, 6-1
6. Caleb Kaytar (SAU) def. Santiago Flores (BU) 2-6, 6-3, 13-11
 
 
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor has its first home match of the spring on Monday, March 30 against Indiana Wesleyan University.