FULTON, Mo. - Competing in its third match in as many days, No. 17 William Woods University (12-8) dropped its regular-season finale 4-0 to NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University (7-7) Thursday at Suzanne Neal Memorial Tennis Complex.
"Tough day for the guys as we narrowly lost the doubles point," William Woods tennis coach
Abigail Lemberger Hughes said. "After three back-to-back matches, the guys were feeling it physically and unfortunately couldn't grasp the singles wins we needed. Now time to rest up and prepare for conference next week."
The Owls stayed with the Bearcats in doubles action. After WWU's
Aoi Ooka and
Jesper Seger lost 6-1 to Alejandro Beneyto Sanchez and Bojan Radoman at the two line, the Owls'
Thomas Geukemeijer and
Cole Horton shut out Alejandro Bravo Diaz and Federico Ivan Riolo 6-0 at the three slot to send it to a doubles-point decision contest at the top position. Falling just short, Woods'
Noah Burton and
Robbie Schorr dropped a 7-6 decision to Marcio Silva and Juan Ignacio Morresi.
In singles, William Woods' Horton lost 6-4, 6-2 to Beneyto Sanchez at the two slot, Burton, ranked 35th in the ITA NAIA men's tennis singles rankings released Thursday, fell 6-2, 6-4 to Silva at the one line and Schorr dropped a 6-2, 6-4 result to Morresi at the four.
The three remaining singles contests didn't finish as the Owls and Bearcats played until the team point was decided.
William Woods will compete in the first Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Championships, which begins next Thursday at Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City. The Owls' opening-round opponent has yet to be determined, and the start time for the matchup will be announced later.
