By Beth Renkoski

 01/31/09

Lions Halt Highlanders in Season-Opener

Riverside, Calif – Student Recreation Center Tennis Complex - Vanguard University’s men’s tennis team began the 2009 season with a non-conference victory today at University of California Riverside. The Lions began the match in a 0-1 hole after losing all three doubles matches. However, Vanguard came back to win five of the six singles matches to earn a 5-2 decision over the NCAA Division I Highlanders.

UC Riverside won 8-5, 8-2, and 8-4 in doubles play but using the NCAA Division I seven-point scoring rules, the Lions found themselves trailing only 1-0 as they entered singles competition.

The Lions earned two-set victories in the first three singles matches with Florian Lemke (6-3, 6-1), Fredric Sandberg (6-3, 6-4), and Tino Brodar (6-2, 6-1), earning efficient wins over the Highlanders. Sandro Bucher needed three sets (6-7, 6-3, 7-6), but came from behind to win a nail-biter over John Park in the number four singles match, and Thomas Frank held on for a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory over Raineir Matias. UCR’s Austin Andres defeated Blake Lamberth (6-1, 6-2) for the Highlanders’ second point.

Vanguard University, 1-0 after a substantial season-opening victory, returns to the court next Saturday at University of Redlands. The match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Today’s Match Scores:

Doubles
1. Sandberg/Brodar vs. Doan/Macherez UCR 8-5
2. Lemke/Bucher vs. Andres/Conroy UCR 8-2
3. Frank/Lamberth vs. Chai/Park UCR 8-4
Singles
1. Florian Lemke vs. Felix Macherez VU 6-3, 6-1
2. Fredric Sandberg vs. Gorjan Kovacevic VU 6-3, 6-4
3. Tino Brodar vs. Quoc Doan VU 6-2, 6-1
4. Sandro Bucher vs. John Park VU 6-7, 6-3, 7-6
5. Thomas Frank vs. Raineir Matias VU 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
6. Blake Lamberth vs. Austin Andres UCR 6-1, 6-2

Final score: VU 5 UCR 2
Season record 1-0