Bethel Men’s Tennis gets big win over Indiana Wesleyan for the first time since 2007
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — In a hot September day and packed stands, the Bethel Pilots (1-1) got a big Crossroads League win over the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (0-2) in a 4-3 thriller at Ward Baker Park on Thursday.
The Wildcats won the doubles point from one doubles in a close fight 6-4 and three doubles 6-3, but Santiago Flores and Nicolo Marchetti won two doubles to set up the deciding match in three doubles.
Victor Bonsergent won 6-2, 6-1 in one singles against IWU’s Illyas Kouchairi, meanwhile, Daniel Jancic took the three singles point 6-1, 6-3. Nicolo Marchetti took the third singles point for the Pilots in four singles 1-6,6-1, 6-4 over Timo Fischer and Martin Gaviria took the fourth and final singles point in six singles over Isaiah Hostetler 7-5, 6-0.
The Pilots defeated the Wildcats for the first time since 2007 and last scored in 2016, before then Bethel scored two points in 2011 and three in 2010.
“This was not the prettiest win by far, but as I’ve told the guys before, sometimes you win ugly, and this was one of those wins. Â IWU is a gritty team, and they showed their grit today. Â After losing the doubles point, our guys stepped up the intensity. Â Victor (Bonsergent) and Daniel (Jancic) both played about as well as I could have hoped and helped us change the course of the match,” said head coach Jamal Henry.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots take on the Goshen Maple Leafs in Goshen, Ind. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. The Maple Leafs go into the match up with a 6-1 win over Spring Arbor at home.
Bethel Women’s Tennis makes history with big win over #15 Indiana Wesleyan
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Under the hot sun of September, the Bethel Pilots (2-0) prepared for a big Crossroads League showdown with the NAIA 15th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (0-2) on Thursday with a 33-year drought hanging in the balance.
The Pilots won for the first time in program history to the Wildcats 4-3 and the last time that BU scored a point was in 2013 when the Pilots lost 7-2.
The doubles point was secured by Bethel from the performances of Szilvi Ferenczy and Kaavy Palani in one doubles 6-3 and Ariadni Kokoula and Farida El Sayed in two doubles 7-6 (5).
Two singles was a dog fight between IWU’s France Antezana and Bethel’s Kaavya Palani that went to the wire 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (2) for the Wildcat point but Ferenczy won the point in three singles against Indiana Wesleyan’s Katie Parr 7-6 (3), 6-2.
The Pilots sealed points in five singles with Sandy Sharaf winning 6-2, 6-2, and four singles by Kenzy Abdelaal 6-2, 6-1.
“This was a total team effort and a huge step forward for our program. IWU has set the dominance bar for the last 33 years, and to come away with the win today is a huge confidence booster for our ladies. Szilvi (Ferenczy) and Kaavya (Palani) played some of the best doubles I’ve seen in a long time, and the singles play of Szilvi, Kenzy (Abdelaal) and Sandy (Sharaf) were clutch performances,” said head coach Jamal Henry.
FULL SET SCORES
Doubles:
1. Szilvi Ferenczy/Kaavya Palani (B) def. France Antezana/Sofia Munoz (IWU) 6-3
2. Ariadni Kokoula/Farida El Sayed (B) def. Lauren Dick/Maria Oliveira (IWU) 7-6 (5)
3. Katie Parr/Meribel Jarna (IWU) def. Kenzy Abdelaal/Sandy Sharaf (B) 6-4
Singles:
1. Sofia Munoz (IWU) def. Ariadni Kokoula (B) 6-1, 6-1
2. France Antezana (IWU) def. Kaavya Palani (B) 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2)
3. Szilvi Ferenczy (B) def. Katie Parr (IWU) 7-6 (3), 6-2
4. Kenzy Abdelaal (B) def. Meribel Jarna (IWU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Sandy Sharaf (B) def. Maria Oliveira (IWU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Lauren Dick (IWU) def. Alexia Peña (B) 6-2, 3-6, 10-1
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots travel to Goshen, Ind. to take on the Goshen Maple Leafs on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a two-match win steak under their belt as they continue the Crossroads League season.