WINTER MAKES SINGLES SEMIS, CASAS-HUYHN PAIRING MAKES DOUBLES SEMIS AT CAYCE INVITATIONAL

Cayce, SC - Coker Men's Tennis competed at the Cayce Invitational this weekend, playing in multiple tournaments during the fall to prep for the spring season.

The highlight on the singles side was the run that Sam Winter made, winning three matches to qualify for the semifinal. On his way, he defeated Barton's Hannes Tylehed (6-2, 7-5), Emmanuel's Henrique Terela Fratini De Castro (6-2, 3-1 ret.), and Chowan's Marcel Ungerboeck (6-4, 6-3) in what coach Tom Simpson says is his "best match in his four years". He then came up against Barton's Daniel Adelino Lopez in the semis and fell 4-6, 4-6 to end his run.

Other athletes to record wins in the main draw include Sharif Vossen and Joao Casas, as they won their respective first-round match-ups before falling in the second round. Vossen defeated Belmont Abbey's Sam McGregor (6-1, 6-3) in his collegiate debut while Casas defeated Barton's Guillem Busquets Brau (6-4, 6-4). Vincent Schlicher had a great showing in Flight C, going 2-0 and double-bageling both his opponents with 6-0, 6-0 scorelines.

On the doubles side of things, Casas paired up with Andy Huyhn in the main draw to go on a run to the semifinals. They defeated Andrey Ampong and Charlie Fremaux from Belmont Abbey 6-4 to move to the quarterfinals, then defeated Murilo Gracio Martins and James Girdler from Emmanuel with a 6-3 scoreline to reach the semis. Just one match short of the final, they dropped a 6-2 decision to Tylehed and Busquets Brau from Barton, who both had been defeated by Cobra athletes in the singles draw.

Schlicher and Benedikt Wittmann also made a semifinal run in the lower doubles flight. They defeated Belmont Abbey's Joseph Rowzie and Kaleb Burrage (6-4) and Shorter's Federico Roman and Mario Molina (7-6 [6]), then fell to Belmont Abbey's Sullivan Monteith and Peyton Williams (6-4) in the semis.

A solid showing for the men's tennis team as they grow and learn before competing this spring.