Kleman, Ault and Bratton Stay Unbeaten in HCAC Play

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The DC men's tennis squad won for the fourth-straight time and clinched third place in the HCAC standings with a convincing, 7-2, win at Manchester on Saturday.

A trio of Jackets concluded the conference schedule with unblemished records, as Austin Kleman, Trevor Ault and Lachmond Bratton notched wins on Saturday to end unbeaten in league play.

Kleman's 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles moved him to 7-0 in HCAC play, while Ault scored a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles to climb to 8-0. Ault then teamed with Bratton to stay perfect at No. 3 doubles, as the tandem improved to 7-0 with an 8-3 victory.

Defiance added to their lead with an 8-0 win from Tyler Ault and Adam Fausey at the top doubles competition and also got straight-set wins from Ault, Fausey and Bratton to finish off the 7-2 victory.

DC (14-6, 6-2 HCAC) will host Huntington on Wednesday at 3:00 pm in its final home match of the 2009 campaign. The Jackets will then compete in the HCAC Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 2 and 3.

Defiance def. Manchester; 7-2 

Doubles
No. 1 – Ty. Ault/Fausey (DC) def. Walker/Tkacs; 8-0
No. 2 – Beedle/Ridoutt (MC) def. Kurtz/Kleman; 9-8
No. 3 – Tr. Ault/Bratton (DC) def. Patterson/Schutte; 8-3 

Singles
No. 1 – Josh Walker (MC) def. Tim Kurtz; 6-4, 7-6
No. 2 – Tyler Ault (DC) def. Andrew Tkacs; 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 – Austin Kleman (DC) def. Jeremy Patterson; 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 – Adam Fausey (DC) def. Piero Ridoutt; 6-1, 6-0
No. 5 – Trevor Ault (DC) def. Dan Beedle; 6-3, 6-0
No. 6 – Lachmond Bratton (DC) def. Dustin Schutte; 6-1, 6-2