Despite falling behind early in doubles play, each team battled back to capture their third win in as many days as the spring break road trip continues.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Continuing their successful week at the USTA National Tennis Center, both of the Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's tennis teams earned their third victory in three days, defeating NCAA DIII Luther College in their Wednesday afternoon matches.
"We are extremely proud of how our teams have been competing here in Orlando," said assistant coach Eduardo Garcia, "and are looking forward to keeping up the hard work during our last two days of our trip!"
The Wolf Pack men's team improves to 9-4 with the victory, increasing their winning streak to five matches, but it was one of the tougher wins of the streak, the final result being 5-4. The Norse (11-2) dropped just their second result of the season, as they entered today 11-1 and on an eight-match win streak.
The duo of Galileo Cabrales (SO/San Salvador, El Salvador) and Joseph Short (FR/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) on doubles court three started off the match well for Loyola, winning 8-3. The Pack would drop the other two doubles matches, however, as they entered singles play trailing the Norse 2-1.
"We started down 2-1 going into singles," said Garcia, "but our guys competed extremely hard to turn the series around and end up winning 5-4."
Ernesto Telles (SO/El Salvador, San Salvador) tied the teams at 2-2 as he started singles play with a 6-1, 6-0 court six win for the Pack, his second-straight victory. Short continued the momentum, falling in the first set in his match on court five but rallying for a 3-6, 6-2, 10-3 victory.
The Norse responded with a victory at the No. 1 spot, so the score became tied at 3-3 with three matches remaining.
"Our highlights of the day came from Ernesto de Diego (SR/Panama City, Panama) and Alex DePascual," said Garcia. "De Diego split sets (6-2, 4-6) and was down 6-1 in the tiebreaker. Not letting fear and nerves affect him, he was able to turn it around and end up winning 10-8 in an epic battle, putting the Wolf Pack up 4-3."
Following de Diego's win on court three, DePascual was put in position to clinch the match on court four, which he did with a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Loyola's women's team also started slowly in doubles, heading into singles play down 2-1 with the only doubles win coming from Miranda Cano (SO/Weston, Fla.) and Arianna Pepper (SO/Arequipa, Peru) teaming up on court three for an 8-4 win,
"Everyone stepped up their game," Garcia said, "and competed hard to win every match in the singles lineup.
Pepper started off singles tying the score at 2-2 with her convincing 6-0, 6-1 win on court three. Manuela Alban (FR/Quito, Ecuador ) followed her with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win on court two, her fourth straight victory.
Gabrielle Terranova (FR/Metairie, La.) put the Wolf Pack up 4-2 with her 6-2, 6-0 win at the No. 5 spot, then Nadja Ochsner (SO/Stein, Switzerland) sealed the team win with her 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 4. Koral Martinez (JR/Lajas, Puerto Rico) and Miranda Cano each got wins on the first and sixth singles courts, respectively, and Loyola ended the day with a 7-2 victory, improving to 8-6 on the season.
Both men's and women's Wolf Pack tennis teams continue their spring break trip with a 1 p.m. match against Webber International in Babson Park, Fla.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
Men's Tennis
Loyola - 5
Luther College - 4
Doubles
1. Anders Jensen/Nate Parsons (LC) def. Ernesto de Diego/Alexander DePascual (JR/Metairie, La.) (LOYNO) 8-5
2. Brian Murman/Cole Schneider (LC) def. Sean Presti (JR/Lesigny, France)/Tiger Cheung (FR/Hong Kong) (LOYNO) 8-5
3. Galileo Cabrales/Joseph Short (LOYNO) def. Jake Smith/Karki Sakchham (LC) 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Grant Morton (LC) def. Galileo Cabrales (LOYNO) 6-1, 6-3
2. Cole Schneider (LC) def. Sean Presti (LOYNO) 6-7, 7-6, 10-8
3. Ernesto de Diego (LOYNO) def. Anders Jensen (LC) 6-2, 4-6, 10-8
4. Alexander DePascual (LOYNO) def. Brian Murman (LC) 6-4, 7-5
5. Joseph Short (LOYNO) def. Ryan Ortega (LC) 3-6, 6-2, 10-3
6. Ernesto Telles (LOYNO) def. Brook Norwood (LC) 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 3, 4, 2
Women's Tennis
Loyola - 7
Luther College - 2
Doubles
1. Jackie Cychosz/Anna Pearson (LC) def. Manuela Alban/Garbeille Terranova (LOYNO) 8-4
2. Kelsey Kruse/Devon Bourget (LC) def. Margaret Adams (JR/Fairhope, Ala.)/Nadja Ochsner (LOYNO) 8-6
3. Miranda Cano/Arianna Pepper (LOYNO) def. Britta Pressler/Ellie Hemker (LC) 8-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Koral Martinez (LOYNO) def. Jackie Cychosz (LC) 6-2, 6-4
2. Manuela Alban (LOYNO) def. Anna Pearson (LC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Arianna Pepper (LOYNO) def. Britta Pressler (LC) 6-0, 6-1
4. Nadja Ochsner (LOYNO) def. Devon Bourget (LC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Gabrielle Terranova (LOYNO) def. Ellie Hemker (LC) 6-2, 6-0
6. Miranda Cano (LOYNO) def. Stephanie Almquist (LC) 7-6 (5), 7-5
Order of finish: 3, 2, 5, 4, 1, 6
