DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern's men's tennis team cruised to a season-openein victory over Dallas Baptist before seeing its opening weekend of action come to an early end due to weather conditions in Dallas, Texas.
The Savage Storm posted a 9-0 win over Dallas Baptist in the spring season opener before rain moved in and cancelled a Saturday afternoon meeting with Midwestern State. The contest against MSU has been rescheduled for March 5 at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.
Southeastern will retake the court on Feb. 15 when it faces No. 38 Delta State at 10 a.m. That is followed by a 2 p.m. meeting with No. 29 Ouachita Baptist and a Feb. 16 matchup with 2012 NAIA National Champions Oklahoma Christian.
SE was fairly dominant in the victory, with only one singles match going beyond straight sets and one doubles match closer than three games.
The Storm swept the doubles point, starting at the top with the regionally-ranked duo of
Luka Radulovic and Martin Bedcarratz. They were challenged some, however, holding on for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles.
Filip Pavlovic and Tiago Ferrieria cruised at No. 2 doubles with an 8-1 win, while
Laercio Lobo and
Billy Haugen swept to an 8-0 win at No. 3.
Radulovic faced the stoutest competition in singles play as well as DBU's Phillip Allen forced a third set which went to a tiebreaker before Radulovic ultimately pulled out a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 win.
Pavlovic faced a tough second-set rebound from the Patriot's Bradley Hilliard, but pulled away with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Spots three through six in singles all cruised to straight set wins.
Bedcarratz opened the spring at No. 3 and picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win, while Lobo posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 4.
Ferrieria was impressive in his spring debut as well, winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5, while Haugen rounded out SE's singles competitors with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 6.
