WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Reigning Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Harold Huens battled through severe cramping to edge Presbyterian’s Max Benson in three sets and lift the Seahawks past the Blue Hose, 4-3, in the men’s tennis home opener late Sunday at the UNCW Courts.
The Seahawks evened their record at 1-1 on the young season and stormed back with four singles victories after surrendering the early doubles point. The Blue Hose fell to 2-5.
After PC won the first two doubles matches off the court to gain an early 1-0 advantage, the Seahawks evened the score when senior David Innocent thumped Blue Hose sophomore Loup Allen, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 singles. Junior Gabe Hurtado then knocked off Javier Matos, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 4 singles to give the Seahawks a 2-1 edge.
But PC rallied back with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles for a 3-2 edge before the Seahawk sophomore Trey Mallory squared the match with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, decision over PC’s Teo Cariov at No. 6 singles.
Huens delivered the clincher, taking the first set, 6-4, before falling 6-2 in the second set to Benson. The Waterloo, Belgium, product then held on for a 6-4 decision in the third and decisive set to end the 3:34 match.
The Seahawks next travel to Conway, SC, to take on Coastal Carolina’s Chanticleers on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1:30 p.m
UNCW 4, Presbyterian 4
Jan. 29, 2023 | UNCW Courts | Wilmington, NC
Singles
1. #63 Dusan Milanovic (PC) def. Bekhzod Rasamatov (UNCW) 6-2, 6-2
2. Harold Huens (UNCW) def. Max Benson (PC) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
3. Sebastian Dominguez (PC) def. Reece Falck (UNCW) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
4. Gabe Hurtado (UNCW) def. Javier Matos (PC) 6-1, 6-2
5. David Innocent (UNCW) def. Loup Allen (PC) 6-2, 6-0
6. Trey Mallory (UNCW) def. Teo Cariov (PC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. #22 Max Benson/Dusan Milanovic(PC) def. Reece Falck/Bekhzod Rasamatov (UNCW) 6-3
2. Sebastian Dominguez/Javier Matos (PC) def. Gabe Hurtado/David Innocent (UNCW) 7-5
3. Trey Mallory/Drew Broadstreet (UNCW) vs. Teo Cariov/David Mamalat (PC) 6-6, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,4,1,3,6,2)