Top-ranked Tiger tennis team dominates opening day of national tourney

The No. 1-ranked Cowley College men's tennis team gave an impressive performance while winning all six singles matches and each of its three doubles matches at the NJCAA Division I National Tennis Championships held Tuesday in Tyler, TX. The Tigers did not drop a set as they are tied for first place with Seward County after day two of the national tourney. 

"We had an awesome day, everyone went out and competed extremely hard," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said.

After finishing as the national runner-up a season ago, the Tigers are again in the hunt for its first national tennis title since 1991.

Each of Cowley's singles and doubles teams will play again in Wednesday's quarterfinal matches.

"It will get tougher each day, so we need to be prepared for it," Raga said. "We have several guys with national tournament experience, so we feel confident heading into Wednesday."

Results:

DOUBLES

*No. 1 – Taiyo Hirano/Aymeric Bruno (CC) defeated Eden Benitez/Gabriel Torres (Jacksonville) 6-2, 6-1.

*No. 2 – Gaston Erhardt/Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Theo Devals-Hamel/Arthur Praud (Iowa Central) 6-0, 6-0.

*No. 3 – Andoni Garmendia/Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Tristian Du Plessis/Alex Rainer (Walters State) 6-4, 6-2.

SINGLES

*No. 1 – Takeshi Taco (CC) defeated Mikar Fisher (Tyler JC) 6-0, 6-0.

*No. 2 – Boruch Skierkier (CC) defeated Carlos Gutierrez (NMMI) 6-0, 6-0.

*No. 3 – Hanamichi Carvajal (CC) defeated Ryan Christensen (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-1.

*No. 4 – Gaston Erhardt (CC) defeated Anderson DeLaney (Mississippi Gulf Coast) 6-3, 6-2.

*No. 5 – Harry Collins (CC) defeated Alexander Hassell (Jacksonville) 6-1, 6-0.

*No. 6 – Andoni Garmendia (CC) defeated Parker Chaney (Meridian) 6-1, 6-0.