LONGVIEW, Texas - Using a trio of three-set singles victories would not be enough for the LeTourneau University men's tennis team as a late rally fell just short in a 5-4 loss to Colorado Christian University at the Davis Tennis Courts in Longview, Texas on Thursday, March 22nd.
Despite the hard-fought effort, LETU falls to 3-8 overall while the NCAA Division II Cougars improved to 5-8 overall.
The YellowJackets would take the first doubles match of the afternoon, getting a strong performance leading to an 8-3 victory by
Christian Farris and
Jimmie Henson. Both the number two and number three doubles matches would be neck and neck from start to finish, as
Robby Bundy and
Zac Crowley-Kurth fell by a score of 8-6 and
Dale Wallace and
Nash Best dropped a 9-7 decision at number three doubles.
Facing a 2-1 deficit, LETU would fight back to tie the match at 3-3 following the first three singles matches by taking two of the three matches. Farris would be unable to recover in the first set of the number one singles match after falling behind 3-0, but came back to win the match by a score of 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 to earn his second point of the day. Henson would have to play a similar role to Farris, earning a 4-6, 6-1, 10-7 three-set victory at number two singles which would get LeTourneau to the 3-3 tie after Bundy dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision.
CCU managed to clinch the match with back-to-back victories at number four and number five singles, with Crowley-Kurth falling 6-2, 6-4 and Collin Pattersron winding up on the wrong end of a 6-0, 6-2 decision. With the match already decided,
Cameron Wall ended the match on a high note for LeTourneau by earning a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 13-11 marathon three-set match victory at number six singles.
LETU will be on the road tomorrow, making up a postponed match from February when the YellowJackets play at Southwestern University starting at 5 p.m.
