Another HCAC Victory for Yellow Jackets

HANOVER, IND. –- Holding its conference standing at the number two position, the Defiance College (10-5, 5-1 HCAC) men's tennis team defeated the Hanover College (Ind.) Panthers by a score of 7-2 in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown. The Yellow Jackets are one HCAC victory shy of its best conference performance since the 2008-09 campaign.

Early leads thanks to a strong outings in doubles has proven to be essential in Defiance's (10-5, 5-1 HCAC) success all season and once again played a factor in the contest's final result. The sophomore-freshman tandem of Tory Savage (Bryan) and Adam Swisher (Bedford, Mich. /Bedford) ran through their third doubles rivals by a score of 8-2. Savage and Swisher (4-4, 2-4 HCAC) have seemed to start finding their stride with their second conference victory in a row. Another doubles decision in the Jackets' favor occurred when the second doubles team of senior Ryan Nelson (Oregon/Clay) and James DeMeo (Oregon/Clay) continued their winning ways with a tight 8-6 triumph. The win pushes their record to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the HCAC.

Despite dropping the first doubles contest 8-6, seniors Mike Ross (Bryan) and Justin Walker (Wilson, N.C. /Hunt), now 8-7 (4-2 HCAC), rebounded for a pair of victories in singles action. Ross (7-7, 4-2 HCAC) took the top point with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Walker (9-5, 4-2 HCAC) took a 6-3, 6-2 decision at the number four singles position.

DeMeo (9-5, 5-1 HCAC), Nelson (10-3, 5-1 HCAC), and Swisher (10-5, 5-1 HCAC) were all able to maintain a flawless outing. Winning 6-1, 6-1, DeMeo continued his dominance at the second singles position. Nelson earned his tenth win on the season with a 6-1, 6-2 final decision. Earning his tenth victory as well, Swisher powered his way to a 6-0, 6-2 win.

At the number five singles position, Savage (7-7, 3-3 HCAC) took an early set advantage before falling 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6).

The Yellow Jackets are set to wrap-up their season with a pair of HCAC contests this upcoming weekend. On Friday, April 24, DC travels to Richmond, Ind. to take on the five-time HCAC champion Earlham (Ind.) College in a rescheduled contest. The following morning, Saturday, April 25, the Yellow Jackets will host Franklin (Ind.) College for the final regular-season contest of the year and senior day. Both contests will be difficult as Franklin sits a half match behind Defiance in the standings while Earlham is threatening as well.