Due West, SC – The Erskine Flying Fleet (2-1, 2-1) split their weekend conference matches edging the Bulldogs of Barton College (1-5, 0-2) on Friday afternoon 5-4 and losing 2-7 on Saturday to the Trojans of Mount Olive College (3-3, 1-0) in men’s tennis action at the Erskine College Tennis Complex. 

In Friday’s match, Erskine’s #3 doubles pair, James Hoatson (Harding, South Africa, Maritzburg High School) and Coleman Welch (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path High School), kept the Fleet from being swept in the doubles matches by winning a crucial tie-breaker 7-4 to win their match 9-8.

Trailing 1-2 entering the six singles matches, Erskine won four of the six matches to edge Barton 5-4.  Senior Vincent Chauvette (Levis, Quebec, Canada, Ecole Pointe-Levy), Hoatson and Welch all won their matches in straight sets to put the Fleet up 4-2.  Unfortunately both Jack West (Belton, SC, Emerald High School) and Connor Roy (Greenville, SC, Travelers Rest High School) dropped their matches after winning their opening sets.  After winning the first set 6-1, West dropped the next two sets to Max Leppert 6-2 and 6-2 at #3 singles.  At #5 singles, Roy could not hold off Jorge Padilla after winning his first set 6-1, losing 6-2 in the second set and 10-5 in the tie-breaker third set.  Amazingly, it was seniorAngelo Ciarrocchi (Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Theodor Herzl High School) at #1 singles who turned the table on P.A. Desilets.  Desilets won the first set 6-4 only to see Ciarrocchi roar back to win the next two sets 6-1 and 7-5 to give the Fleet the 5-4 victory.

On Saturday, the Fleet struggled against the Trojans.  The Trojans jumped out to a 3-0 advantage after doubles play easily 8-2 at both #1 and #3 doubles.  West and Roy played a tight match at #2 doubles but Akio Mariano and Murilo Pelegrino prevailed in the end winning the match 8-5.

The Trojans continued to overwhelm the Fleet in singles play winning three of the six matches in straight sets.  After playing so well on Friday, Ciarrocchi was forced to retire at #1 singles due to an injury.  Chauvette won his #2 singles match in straight set and West picked up the win at #3 singles when his opponent was forced to withdraw in the second set due to injury.  West cruised to an easy 6-1 victory in the first set. 

The Fleet step out of conference to host the Bulldogs of Wingate University on Monday starting at 2:30 p.m.  Admission is free to all Erskine home tennis matches.

Barton Box Score

Mt. Olive Box Score