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PSAC Men's Tennis Champs 2021

Men's Tennis

Edinboro men's tennis defeats Mercyhurst 4-2 to claim PSAC crown

Box Score (New/Sortable Format) ERIE, Pa. - In come from behind fashion, the Fighting Scots men's tennis team was crowned PSAC Champions for 2021. The loss avenges a defeat to the Lakers of Mercyhurst earlier this month and qualifies the team for the right to play for the Atlantic Region Championship.

It was a slow start for the Fighting Scots as they fell in doubles to make it 1-0 in favor of Mercyhurst. The Lakers next picked up a singles victory in the number one singles spot meaning four of the last five singles players for Edinboro needed to win for the team to be crowned conference champions.

In the number six singles match, Kai Chin Chen (Taipei, Taiwan) was able to get Edinboro on the scoreboard and make it a 2-1 match score. Not long after, Ruben Acuna (Palma De Mallorca, Spain/Aula Balear) was able to win at the number two singles spot for the Fighting Scots to knot the match score at 2-2.

The number three, four, and five singles matches were competitive and back and forth contests that the Fighting Scots were able to get the better of. Gustavo Martins (Sao Carlos, Brazil) in the number three singles match was able to take the first set before falling behind in the second set early. Despite this, Martins kept his composure and continued to bring energy and was able to rally back and get the win for Edinboro to make it a 3-2 match score in favor of the visiting team.

In the number four singles match, Thibault Dorval (Belgium) was off to a great start and took the first set and also had a narrow lead in the third set, 3-2. Meanwhile, teammate Kaio Sacchi (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Santo Ivo) was having a fine match in the number five singles position himself and was also able to win the first set. In the second set, it was again a back and forth match that Sacchi was able to come out on top in.

With most of his teammates looking on, Sacchi served in the final match point and was able to win the rally to secure the victory. He was rushed by his teammates to celebrate as Edinboro snapped an eight match skid against Mercyhurst overall and won their first conference title since the 2015-16 season. It is also the first PSAC title for Head Tennis Coach Kody Duncan who has helped to assemble one of the Atlantic Region's best teams in 2021.

"This team went through so much adversity this year," said Duncan. "I couldn't be prouder and happier for them. We have a great group of guys here and we are excited to see how we can do next week at the NCAA's. We are very young this this should boost their confidence for the upcoming years."

Watch the Final Match Point

Acuna had this to say about how the team was able to rebound and get back on track in singles play. "We lost against this team last time, 4-3, We got off to a slow start, After losing the point in doubles, we started over again and we fought to get the points in singles. We are a very good team in singles and we played hard and got the points."

Sacchi also gave his thoughts on how the team has been playing down the stretch and also what it means to be a PSAC Champion. He said "It feels great to be a champion especially with these guys on my side. The energy was on our side and we have been playing so good in our last few matches. I am very happy with this win and excited to go to regionals now."

The Fighting Scots hope to have plenty of tennis in front of them as they await their matchup and location for the Atlantic Region/NCAA Tournament beginning next week. 

Results

Doubles
1. Takahiro Inoue and Kai Chin Chen def. by David Akinpetide and Milan Jankovic, 2-6.
2. Gustavo Martins and Thibault Dorval def. by Unai Amilleta Gonzalez and Arseniy Sklyarov, 3-6.
3. Kaio Sacchi and Ruben Acuna did not finish vs. Kiran Richard and Hristo Plasheski, 4-3

Singles
1. Takahiro Inoue def by Unai Amilleta Gonzalez, 1-6, 1-6.
2. Ruben Acuna over David Akinpetide, 7-6(4), 6-3.
3. Gustavo Martins over Milan Jankovic, 6-2, 7-5.
4. Thibault Dorval did not finish vs. Hristo Plasheski, 6-2, 3-6, 3-2.
5. Kaio Sacchi over Arseniy Sklyarov, 6-4, 6-4.
6. Kai Chin Chen over Kiran Richards, 7-6(4), 6-1.
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Players Mentioned

Ruben Acuna

Ruben Acuna

6' 2"
Sophomore
Takahiro Inoue

Takahiro Inoue

Sophomore
Kaio Sacchi

Kaio Sacchi

5' 8"
Sophomore
Gustavo Martins

Gustavo Martins

Freshman
Kai Chin Chen

Kai Chin Chen

Freshman
Thibault Dorval

Thibault Dorval

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ruben Acuna

Ruben Acuna

6' 2"
Sophomore
Takahiro Inoue

Takahiro Inoue

Sophomore
Kaio Sacchi

Kaio Sacchi

5' 8"
Sophomore
Gustavo Martins

Gustavo Martins

Freshman
Kai Chin Chen

Kai Chin Chen

Freshman
Thibault Dorval

Thibault Dorval

Freshman