Fourth-ranked Middlebury split a pair of matches on Monday during its spring trip in Texas. The Panthers started the day with a 7-2 win over #19 Gustavus Adolphus, but fell 6-3 to Division II foe St. Edward's (Texas). Both matches were played at the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas. Following a day off on Tuesday, Middlebury returns to the courts on Wednesday against #16 Trinity (Texas) at 5:00 p.m.
During the match against Gustavus Adolphus (17-6), the Gusties scored the first point at No. 3 when David Hagberg and Yassine Derbani posted an 8-6 win over Allen Jackson and Timo van der Geest. The top flight of Hamid Derbani and Kyle Schlanger evened the match with an 8-6 win against Mohanad Alhouni and Patrick Whaling. The Gusties took a 2-1 advantage into singles when Tommy Entwistle and Chase Johnson tallied an 8-6 win at #2 over William de Quant and Peter Martin.
The Panthers swept all six singles matches against Gustavus Adolphus. Derbani tied the match at 2-2 when Ekstein retired at No. 2 with Derbani ahead 6-3 and 4-1. At No. 4, van der Geest gave the Panthers the lead for good with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Entwistle, while Alex Vanezis made it 4-2 in favor of Middlebury with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6 over Derbani.
Jackson clinched the match at No. 5 with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 win against Johnson, while de Quant cruised at No. 1 over Alhouni (6-3, 6-3) for a 6-2 advantage. Schlanger closed the scoring with a three-set triumph over Whaling at No. 3 (6-4, 4-6, 10-7).
Later in the day against St. Edward's (11-8), the Panthers shifted their lineup around and the singles flights were played first. The Hilltoppers got on the scoreboard first when Chase Bartlett defeated Jackson at No. 2 by scores of 6-2, 6-2. The Panthers leveled the match following a 6-3, 6-4 victory by Martin at No. 6 over Logan Buignet.
St. Edward's regained the advantage with a narrow 6-4, 6-4 victory by Will Drumright against Weston Brach at No. 4, but Derbani claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win at the top spot over Charlie Shin to knot the score at 2-2.
The Hilltoppers took the lead headed to doubles with straight-set victories by Mateus de Col over Vanezis (6-2, 6-4) in the third spot and Andre Mercado against Aleksandr Samets at No. 5 (7-5, 6-4).
During doubles play, Shin and de Col clinched the match for St. Edward's with an 8-4 win over de Quant and Martin in the second spot. Derbani and Schlanger made it a 5-3 match via a victory over Bartlett and Chase Morehouse at the top spot, while Davor Ivkovic and Mercado finished the scoring with a 9-7 victory over Jackson and van der Geest at No. 3.
