The LaGrange College men's tennis team competed in its 2021 USA South opener Saturday on the Greer Tennis Courts during a 9-0 setback to Covenant.
The Scots (3-3, 1-0 USA South) were picked to finish second in the USA South West Division Coaches' Pre-Conference poll, earning 33 points and three first-place votes. The Panthers (1-2, 0-1 USA South) were tabbed third with 26 points.
The top-two teams from the conference's West and East Division will qualify for the 2021 USA South Tournament. The No. 1 and 2 seeds will play in the respective divisions on April 24, and then the winners will meet for the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament on May 1.
Ben Luke clinched the match Saturday for Covenant, winning, 6-3, 6-1, at the top singles slot. Sophomore Al Robertson and senior Kyle Kelley left it all on the court at the No. 1 doubles flight, but Austin Dreslinski and Solomon Crouch earned a 7-3 win in the tiebreaker during an 8-7 set win.
Senior Clint Brewer showcased mental toughness at the fourth singles slot. He dropped the first set, 6-2, but then fought back in the second and battled into a tiebreaker with Crouch. Crouch won the tiebreaker, 7-5, taking the second set, 7-6, to close out No. 4 singles.
The Panthers, who opened the season with an 8-1 win over Huntingdon on Feb. 24, will try to get back in the win column against USA South-foe Berea on Saturday, March 13, in Berea, Kentucky. The time of the match is to be determined.
Assistant Sports Information Director Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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