BROWNSWOOD - The LeTourneau YellowJacket men's tennis team opened up the 2013 season on Friday afternoon as they took on the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets on the road. The Jackets came in and dominated Howard Payne 9-0 to eanr their first win of the season.
The Jackets got things going in doubles action as the No. 3 doubles team of junior Josh Bailey and freshman Michael McLaughlin dominated the team of Will Thomas and Nolan Ethridge 8-0 to set the tone early on. The No. 1 team of senior Carlos Cantu and freshman Laird Beaty followed that up with a 8-3 win followed by the No. 2 team of sophomores Kendall Beggs and Sindre Johnsgaard won an 8-4 contest to complete the sweep in doubles.
Things only got better for the Jackets as Cantu cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win in No. 1 singles followed by a 6-2, 6-2 win in No. 6 singles by McLaughlin to clinch the win.
Beaty at No. 2 singles and Johnsgaard at No. 4 singles both cruised to 6-3, 6-4 wins while Beggs at No. 3 singles took a 7-6, 6-2 victory.
The only match that went to three sets was at the No. 5 singles where Bailey took a 6-0 win over Ethridge ibefore falling 6-1 to set up the third and final set. Bailey was able to hold off his opponent and get the victory, 6-3.
The Jackets improve to 1-0 on the season and are back on the court tomorrow morning as they travel to Abeline to take on Hardin-Simmons at 9 a.m. followed by a match against McMurry at 2 p.m.
