Yellow Jackets open up season with double dual match split

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College Men's Tennis team started off its season with a double dual match featuring Baldwin-Wallace and Saint Francis Saturday night.  The Yellow Jackets were able to earn a split in the first day of competition, defeating Saint Francis and falling to Baldwin-Wallace.

In the first match-up, the Yellow Jackets (1-1) fell 7-2 to Baldwin-Wallace (5-0).  The two wins for the Yellow Jackets came from James Demeo (Oregon, Ohio) in the fourth singles match and Demeo and Tony Savage (Bryan, Ohio) in the third doubles match.

Demeo won his singles match in exciting fashion. The first set was a tight battle against Brad Minrovic of Baldwin-Wallace, as Demeo needed a tie-breaker to win the set 7-6 (7-4).  He then secured his victory with a 6-2 second set. 

Demeo started the day with Savage as the two teamed up to win 8-4 over Kevin Fredrick and Zach Elbin.

Ryan Nelson (Oregon, Ohio) was close to another DC victory in third singles match, taking Doug Ganim to a second set tie-breaker before eventually falling 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

In the second game of the day for DC, the Yellow Jackets defeated Saint Francis (4-12) with a narrow 5-4 margin, giving head coach Tyler Ault his first win in charge of the Purple and Gold.

The pairings of Mike Ross/Ryan Nelson and James Demeo/Tory Savage gave DC a 2-1 lead after doubles. Ross and Nelson won 8-3, while Demeo and Savage won 8-6.

In singles play, the Yellow Jackets split with Saint Francis. Nelson, Demeo, and Justin Walker won for DC. Nelson won 6-0, 6-3 and Walker also had a comfortable victory 6-2, 6-0. Demeo had more of a challenge, but finished with set wins of 6-4, 6-2.

Cord Speelman needed a third set tie breaker to decide his match with Matt Stallman, but fell 10-2. Each player won 6-2 in the first two sets. Ross fell in a tight battle, 6-5, 6-3 and Savage was defeated 6-4, 6-3.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action Sunday, March 2, with an HCAC contest at home against Franklin. The match is set for a 4:30 p.m. start.