ST. LOUIS, MO – With both Principia College Tennis teams winning the UMAC Championship last weekend and qualifying for the Division III National Tournament, their first round matches took place on Thursday. The women were defeated 5-0 by Grinnell College at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, while the men were defeated 5-0 by North Central College at the XS Tennis Village in Chicago.
Despite neither Principia team earning a point by winning a match, they each fought hard against a strong opponent and could have won a point or more if the National Tournament matches weren't played to decision. In fact,
Ernesto Botero was two points away from a straight set win at #3 singles when the men's match was decided, and
Bissola Lassissi was up a set at #1 singles when the women's match was decided.
Jesús Soto Bossa and
Nacho Cachaza were also locked in tight battles in their second sets at #1 and #2 singles as each looked to force third sets.
On the doubles side, all three women's pairs were either leading or tied halfway through their matches before their Grinnell counterparts pulled away. And the men's pair of Botero and Cachaza put up a great fight at #1, only losing 8-6. Overall, the Panther teams had nothing to hang their heads about after playing their hearts out during a very successful, conference championship-winning season.
