The Bisons faced Atlantic Sun rival, Belmont University, in the heated Battle of the Boulevard on Tuesday, April 6 at Belmont’s Davis Tennis Complex.
As always, the tension rose as the two teams began the face off.
The Bisons took an early lead when they clinched the doubles point, winning No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.
Daniel Hangstefer and Joe McArdle secured a win at No. 1, defeating Renato Antun and Rafael Matos 8-6.
The Bisons lost their only doubles match at the No. 2 spot. Chad Pierron and Tanner Brown were defeated by Joao Paolielli and Filipe Cirne Lima 8-6.
Mario Hernandez and Colby Shaw picked up another win at No. 3 to give the Bisons the doubles point. The duo beat Belmont’s Bruno Silva and Jonathan Murrell in a close tiebreaker, prevailing 9-8.
With the doubles point under their belt, the Bisons took a 1-0 over the Bruins.
Hangstefer earned another win for the Bisons with his victory at No. 1 singles. Hangstefer defeated Paolielli 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 in a three set battle.
The Bruins fought back with a win at No. 2. Pierron was defeated by the Belmont’s Antun 6-2, 6-3, bringing the match score to 2-1.
The score was evened at 2-2 when Lipscomb fell at the No. 3 spot. Hernandez fell to Amaral in a close three set match, losing 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
The Bisons battled back to take the lead once again, securing their third win at No. 4. Shaw easily glided past Lima, defeating him 6-2, 6-4.
Once again, Belmont matched Lipscomb, taking a win at No. 5 to even the match score to 3-3. Brown was defeated by Matos 6-0, 6-1.
Unfortunately, the Bruins earned the final win at No. 6 singles. McArdle fell to Silva after coming back in the second set, taking it to a tiebreaker. In the end, McArdle was defeated 6-2, 7-6 (4).
The Bisons end their conference season with a record of 1-9.
Lipscomb travels to the University of Kentucky to face No. 9 ranked UK on Tuesday, April 13.
Results:
Doubles:
1. Daniel Hangstefer/Joe McArdle (LU) def. Renato Antun/Rafael Matos (BEL) 8-6
2. Joao Paoliello/Felipe Cirne Lima (BEL) def. Chad Pierron/Tanner Brown (LU) 8-6
3. Mario Hernandez/Colby Shaw (LU) def. Bruno Silva/Jonathan Murrell (BEL) 9-8
Singles:
1. Daniel Hangstefer (LU) def. Joao Paoliello (BEL) 6-7, 6-1, 6-2
2. Renato Antun (BEL) def. Chad Pierron (LU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Rodrigo Amaral (BEL) def. Mario Hernandez (LU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. Colby Shaw (LU) def. Felipe Cirne Lima (BEL) 6-2, 6-4
5. Rafael Matos (BEL) def. Tanner Brown (LU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Bruno Silva (BEL) def. Joe McArdle (LU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)