Due West, SC – Erskine opened their 2012 campaign with an impressive 8-1 victory over the visiting Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College late this afternoon in Conference Carolinas men’s tennis action at the Erskine College Tennis Courts.

The Fleet dropped in their lone match at #1 doubles as Conner McMann and Alex Gradenwitz  edged Angelo Ciarrocchi (Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Theodor Herzl High School) and Vincent Chauvette (Levis, Quebec, Canada, Ecole Pointe-Levy) 8-5.   Sophomore Jack West (Belton, SC, Emerald High School) teamed with freshman Connor Roy (Greenville, SC, Travelers Rest High School) to easily cruise past Gabriel Trombini and Tim Tanko 8-2 while junior James Hoatson (Harding, South Africa, Maritzburg High School) and freshman Coleman Welch (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path High School)outlasted Idris Moya and Patrick Noelke to win 8-5 at #3 doubles.

Erskine swept the singles competition.  Roy and Welch blasted their opponents 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-0 respectively at the #5 and #6 seed singles.  West, last season’s Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, opened his season by beating Tim Tanko 6-2, 6-2 while Chauvette won 6-3, 6-4 over Alex Gradenwitz.   Hoatson won a tight match at #4 singles over Tombini in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).   

The most exciting match of the day was at #1 singles between Ciarrocchi and McMann.  After winning the first set 7-5, Ciarrocchi dropped the second set 6-4 but rebounded to win the tie-breaker set 1-0 (10-7).

After today’s match, the Fleet do not play again for two weeks when Barton College visits Due West.  Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.

Box Score