PERKINSTON, Miss. – The Loyola Wolf Pack men's tennis team has started the spring season 2-0 for the first time since the spring of 2019, as the team swept a doubleheader on Saturday to open the 2023 season.
Loyola, which received votes in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll, took down hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College 7-0 and won 6-1 against Meridian College.
Three different players made their Wolf Pack dual match debuts: Spencer Matz, Hippolyte de Preville, and Fernando Sedrani Piestun. All three were undefeated on Saturday. Matz got a workout in his first spring matches with the Pack, playing singles and doubles in both sides of the doubleheader. De Preville won both of his singles matches with a doubles victory as well.
Samuel Motazed, who had not played since January 27 of last season, bounced back to win a match in singles and doubles. Tiger Cheung, who only played in one doubles match last season, paired up with Matz in a match one victory.
Returners Theo Debackere, Aubin Duchier, Herman Aure, and Remus Hebhang-Balan all saw action in both matches on Saturday. Debackere got the nod at the No. 1 position for the first time in singles, winning in three sets. Every other Wolf Pack win was in straight sets as they started the season strong.
Loyola's men's and women's tennis teams will continue the season with their first home match on Tuesday. The match against NCAA Division-I opponent Nicholls is set to start at noon in New Orleans City Park.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
Match One
Loyola – 7
MGCCC – 0
Doubles
1. Stice/Gayk (MGCCC) def. Duchier/Hebhang-Balan (LOYNO) 6-4
2. Aure/Motazed (LOYNO) def. Dulaney/Ladner (MGCCC) 6-2
3. Cheung/Matz (LOYNO) def. Bond/King 6-1
Singles
1. Theo Debackere (LOYNO) def. Paul Gayk (MGCCC) 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
2. Remus Hebhang-Balan (LOYNO) def. Owen Stice (MGCCC) 6-4, 7-5
3. Hippolyte de Preville (LOYNO) def. Anderson Dulaney (MGCCC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Aubin Duchier (LOYNO) def. Orren Ladner (MGCCC) 6-1, 6-1
5. Herman Aure (LOYNO) def. Kyle Bond (MGCCC) 6-0, 6-3
6. Spencer Matz (LOYNO) def. Chace Bolan (MGCCC) 6-3, 6-0
Match Two
Loyola – 6
Meridian CC – 1
Doubles
1. Hernandez/Hiss (MCC) def. Aure/Hebhang-Balan (LOYNO) 6-3
2. Duchier/Matz (LOYNO) def. McCullough/Smith (MCC) 6-2
3. Debackere/de Preville (LOYNO) def. Lyons/Jones 6-0
Singles
1. Sebastian Hernandez def. Remus Hebhang-Balan (LOYNO) 7-5, 6-2
2. Theo Debackere (LOYNO) def. Loic Hiss (MCC) 6-3, 6-2
3. Hippolyte de Preville (LOYNO) def. Will McCullough (MCC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Samuel Motazed (LOYNO) def. Parker Lyons (MCC) 6-2, 6-3
5. Spencer Matz (LOYNO) def. Denzel Jones (MCC) 6-2, 6-0
6. Fernando Sedrani Piestun (LOYNO) def. Nathan Smith (MCC) 6-2, 6-1
