Kunz Reaches Finals, Wildcats Conclude Fall Slate of Events For M. Tennis

Friday, October 28

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Kunz Reaches Finals, Wildcats Conclude Fall Slate of Events For M. Tennis

10/31/2011 2:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

Crimson Tide Results
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DAVIDSON, N.C. — Freshman Nicky Kunz (Hilton Head, S.C.) led a group of Wildcats at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships by reaching the finals in his respective singles bracket as the Davidson men's tennis team finished out its 2011 Fall schedule this past weekend, Oct. 28-30.

Kunz was joined by five other Wildcats over the weekend as he closed out a successful Fall season for himself. The first-year player opened the Crimson Tide event with a three-set triumph over a player from Furman, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Hannah Draw. He then scored a 6-3, 6-1 win in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis, where he picked up a third win by the count of 6-4, 6-3 against Iain Sneddon of Tulane to reach the finals. Kunz's strong weekend come to an end there as he fell 6-4, 6-3.

Robert Lightbourn (Naussau, Bahamas) also earned a win in his first singles match against Southern Mississippi's Andrew Goodwin, taking home a 7-6, 6-3 victory. The sophomore saw his weekend halted by Robbie Aru of Furman, who earned a three-set trimph, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

Also playing singles for the 'Cats were Connor Evins (Greenville, S.C.), Ethan Kallick (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Roger Irigoyen Berlanga (Naucalpan, Mexico) and Ted Bolton (Portland, Ore.). For Irigoyen Berlanga, he scored his first collegiate Fall event win when the first-year player started with a 6-1, 7-5 triumph over Rob Ankner of Boston College. His run came to an end though in the quarterfinals wth a 6-2, 6-2 setback to Jone Pine of Virginia Tech.

Evins played a strong first match against an Alabama player, falling 6-4, 7-5 in the Stabler Draw, while Kallick was in the Stallings Draw and dropped a match against Zan Smith of BSU.

Bolton dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to open his singles draw and then like Kallick and Evins, played a consolation match before ending their fall seasons.

Davidson also had three doubles teams in the event. The team of Kallick and Kunz played in the Crimson Draw and lost 8-5 to a pair form Boston College.

Evins and Lightbourn teamed up in the White Draw and scored an 8-6 triumph over UAB, before dropping a tough 9-7 decision in a quarterfinal match. Also representing the Wildcats in the same draw was Bolton and Irigoyen Berlanga. They dropped an 8-1 decision in their first doubles match together this Fall.

Davidson gets its Spring season rolling with a trip to Blacksburg, Va., Jan. 20, where it will play in the Virginia Tech tour. The Wildcats open their home slate against Gardner-Webb on Jan. 28.