The Webster University men's tennis team battled to a 2-1 lead in doubles play, then went into overdrive in singles as it defeated Oakland City University (IN), 7-2, on April 8 at the Webster Groves Tennis Center. The Gorloks handled the Mighty Oaks, an NCAA II scholarship program, easily in singles play, winning five of six, all in straight sets.
The doubles team of Juan Granizo (JR, Quito, Ecuador/Colegio Alberto Einstein) and Ian Powers (FR, Farmington, MO/Farmington HS) slugged it out to an 8-6 win at #1. Even though Trent Purnell (SR, Marion, IL/Marion HS) and Matt Lang (SR, St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh HS) were nipped in another battle at #2, Charles McGee (FR, Waterloo, IL/Waterloo HS) and Zach Selby (SR, Redding, CA/Enterprise HS) had an easier time at #3, giving the Gorloks the 2-1 lead with an 8-3 win.
Granizo then proceeded to win in straight sets at #1 singles, while Powers at #2, Purnell at #3, McGee at #5, and Eric Bateman (JR, Maryland Heights, MO/Pattonville HS) at #6 all followed suit. McGee had the only close call in his victory, winning the tie-breaker in the first set before skunking his opponent, 6-0, in the second.
Granizo and McGee improved to 8-2 in singles play, while Bateman goes to 2-0.
Webster improves to 6-4 with the non-conference win, and will travel to Kentucky on April 10 to play Berea College, an NAIA scholarship program.
Webster University 7 Oakland City University 2
Singles Competition
1. Juan Granizo (WUMT) def. Preston Browning (OAKMT) 6-4, 6-0
2. Ian Powers (WUMT) def. Edilberto Vazquez (OAKMT) 6-0, 6-0
3. Trent Purnell (WUMT) def. Alec Sandefer (OAKMT) 6-3, 6-2
4. Zach Robinson (OAKMT) def. Matt Lang (WUMT) 6-2, 6-4
5. Charles McGee (WUMT) def. Jacob Hughen (OAKMT) 7-6, 6-0
6. Eric Bateman (WUMT) def. Nathan Sparks (OAKMT) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Juan Granizo/Ian Powers (WUMT) def. Zach Robinson/Edilberto Vazquez (OAKMT) 8-6
2. Preston Browning/Jacob Hughen (OAKMT) def. Trent Purnell/Matt Lang (WUMT) 9-7
3. Charles McGee/Zach Selby (WUMT) def. Alec Sandefer/Stephen Schaffer (OAKMT) 8-3
