KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's tennis team eked out a close victory to wrap up a three-match homestand, with the Broncos defeating the Valparaiso Crusaders by a 4-3 score at West Hills Athletic Club on Sunday afternoon. WMU improves to 15-4 with the win and have now won 13 of their last 14 matches.
Senior Ruben Greiner delivered the clinching win with a come-from-behind decision in the No. 3 singles match against the Crusaders' Garrett Gardner. Greiner dropped the first set 6-2, but claimed wins in each of the second and third sets, winning 6-3, 6-1 in the last two sets to complete the comeback victory. WMU allowed Valparaiso to take the first two points of the team match before scoring four in a row to take the victory.
Jimmy Beckwith and Jefta Kecic were the sole Bronco doubles pairing to win a match, beating Lucas Waak and Gardner 6-2 to tie the doubles session before the Crusaders clinched the point with a 6-4 win in the No. 1 match. Charlie Emhardt then made it a 2-0 lead for Valpo with a straight-sets win over Beckwith in the No. 5 singles match. The Broncos rebounded, however, with Maik Steiner downing Jeffrey Schorsch 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles match to put WMU on the board and Stephen Payne blowing past Waak at the No. 6 spot to tie the match.
Kecic bounced back from a second-set loss to Dave Bacalla in the No. 1 singles match to dominate in the third set, winning 6-1 in the final stanza to put the Broncos ahead by a 3-2 score. Greiner did the rest from there, beating Gardner 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to complete the comeback victory.
Western Michigan 4, Valparaiso 3
Singles competition
1. Jefta Kecic (WMU) def. Dave Bacalla (VALPO) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
2. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Jeffrey Schorsch (VALPO) 6-4, 6-2
3. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Garrett Gardner (VALPO) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Kyle Dunn (VALPO) def. Matt Hamilton (WMU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
5. Charlie Emhardt (VALPO) def. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) 6-0, 6-4
6. Stephen Payne (WMU) def. Lucas Waak (VALPO) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Charlie Emhardt/Jeffrey Schorsch (VALPO) def. Ruben Greiner/Maik Steiner (WMU) 6-4
2. Dave Bacalla/Chase Hamilton (VALPO) def. Stephen Payne/Matt Hamilton (WMU) 6-4
3. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU) def. Lucas Waak/Garrett Gardner (VALPO) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,2,6,1,3,4)
