ELSAH, IL – The Principia men's tennis team is off to a terrific start to the season having won five of their first six matches, all of which were hosted on campus in Hexberg Tennis Center.
After #1 singles player Jesus Soto Bossa won UMAC South Player of the Week to begin the season, #1 doubles partners
Nacho Cachaza and
Ernesto Botero have each won the award in back-to-back weeks thanks to their stellar play at the top of the Principia lineup.
A week ago, the Panthers hosted a tri-match against Earlham College and Illinois College. Against Earlham, Principia's to two doubles pairs won their matches 6-1 to clinch the opening point. Then all four of those players won their singles matches for a 5-2 overall victory. Soto Bossa and Cachaza each had nice comeback wins at #1 and #2 singles after losing close first sets. Each won their second set in convincing fashion and then outlasted their opponents in the 10-point super tiebreaker.
Later that night vs Illinois College, Principia cruised to a 6-1 victory with their only loss in the 10-point tiebreaker at #6 singles. #3 doubles pair
Christian Tresoldi and
Alfredo Boly did pull off a thrilling win in the early session, defeating IC's #3 pair 7-6 (8-6) in the breaker.
This past Saturday, the Panthers hosted Franklin College and won 5-2 in similar fashion to the Earlham match with Principia's top four players winning both their singles and doubles matches. This time, no comebacks were needed as all four did not drop a set.
Ignacio Zamora had the most dominant performance winning 6-1, 6-0 at #4 singles, while Tresoldi came very close to a win at #5 singles, falling 12-10 in the super tiebreaker.
The Principia men will head to Los Angeles next week for their annual spring break trip and face Hope International University on March 17 and Whittier College on March 19.
