GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Having graduated only one senior from last year's squad, the Panthers opened up the 2012-13 campaign with high optimism and it showed early as DU posted a 9-0 win over WHAC foe Cornerstone in a non-league match hosted by the Golden Eagles.
Tyler Chambers and
Eric Pell rallied back to win a thrilling 9-7 decision at #2 doubles and the rest of the team cruised in their matches to complete the season opening win.
Head coach
Patrick Grashorn was very pleased after watching his team post a 9-0 win over Cornerstone on Friday afternoon at Orchard Hills. The team, which features just one senior and a #1 singles player who is a freshman, started off the day with a 3-0 lead in doubles action with
Eric Pell teaming with
Tyler Chambers to post a dramatic 8-7 come from behind win. The #1 doubles team of
Filip Henrikson and
Vitaly Shumilov won by the most decisive score, 8-1.
In singles play, Davenport again controlled each match with none going more than the minimum two sets as
Christian Woods made his first appearance of the season at #3 singles posting a 6-4, 6-2 win.
Matheus Moreira de Carvalho won at #4 singles by the same score while
Zac Chambers, who red-shirted last season won the #6 match 6-2, 6-3.
Davenport will now turn their attention to the ITA Midwest Regional next Thursday-Saturday here in Grand Rapids. Time and locations of the matches will be announced later.
Post-Match Quotes – Head coach
Patrick Grashorn
“Cornerstone brought in 4 new guys and is an entirely different team from last year. We knew they had improved but we have as well and the guys were excited to play someone besides each other. Our lineup is still a work in progress but I was pleased with the doubles pairings”
Post-Match Notes
The 9-0 win marked the third straight year DU has opened with a sweep in the first match as they defeated St. Francis last year and Judson in 2009-10…DU is now 3-0 all-time against the Golden Eagles and they have won 26 of the 27 matches
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