SPARTANBURG, S.C.- Freshman Tinus Van Wyk battled back from losing the opening set on court No. 4 to rally and win in three sets securing the final point of the day as Wofford downed College of Charleston 4-3 on Friday afternoon in Southern Conference action at the Reeves Tennis Center. The Terriers improve to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon, while the Cougars now sit at 5-8 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Wofford came out firing in doubles played and the effort paid off as they swept all three doubles matches to pick up the lone doubles point and a 1-0 lead heading into singles action.
“It was a Good effort for us today in doubles and Charleston responded by playing great singles,” stated head coach Rod Ray
Senior Scott Collins and Van Wyk had the easiest match of the day on court No. 3 as they defeated Steven Myers and Joe Nicolazzi 8-4. On court No. 2, Alan Donald and Paul Bartholomy were up 7-2 but had to fight and hold off the tandem of Mickael Trintignac and Mickael Boyer 8-6 to clinch the doubles point.
The freshman duo of Stuart Robertson and Danny Manlow trailed for almost the entire match after an opening break of serve on court No. 1. However, the pair never faltered and broke back late to send the match into a tiebreaker in which they were able to pull out 8-7(5) beating Lukas Koncilia and Tom Delme to secure the sweep.
In singles, College of Charleston quickly evened the math at one apiece as Boyer downed Collins on court No. 3 6-0, 6-4. The Terriers regained the lead at 2-1, as Bartholomy downed Myers 6-1, 6-4 on court No. 6. The Cougars returned the favor on court No. 1 as Koncilia downed Robertson 6-3, 6-2 to level the match at two apiece. CofC then went up 3-2 as Delme downed Manlow on court No. 2, 7-5, 6-2. Donald brought the Terriers back to even at 3 all as he downed Nicolazzi 6-4, 6-2, leaving the deciding point down to Van Wyk on court No. 4
After dropping the opening set 6-4, Van Wyk rallied back to take the second set by a score of 6-3. In the third and final set, Van Wyk and Trintignac each broke serve thus allowing neither player to get an edge. After being penalized a full game for ball abuse and losing a break of serve, Van Wyk battled back to even the set at three after breaking back once again.
Both players held serve tying the match at 4 until Van Wyk was able to break though in the ninth game of the set. Van Wyk went up love-30 to start the game and eventually got break point opportunities at 15-40. After losing the first break point, Van Wyk finally came though and got the service break pushing the set lead to 5-4. Behind a strong forehand winner and service ace, Van Wyk secured match points at 40-15. After a sliding serve to the forehand side, Van Wyk followed with a backhand cross court to set up a swinging forehand volley which painted the line giving Van Wyk the win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and the Terriers the 4-3 victory.
“I’m proud of Tinus for going down a break early and lifting his level to come back and win the match,” stated Ray.
The Terriers return to the Reeves Tennis Center Saturday as they play host to the Eagles of Georgia Southern at noon.
