The Huskies improved their overall record to 5-4. (File photo/The Daily Campus)
The UConn men’s tennis team earned its first wins of the spring season after taking down Sacred Heart and Hofstra over the weekend. The Huskies improved their overall record to 5-4.
On Saturday, UConn topped Sacred Heart 6-1 at the Tennis Club of Trumbull. The Huskies claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2, and clinched the match by winning the No. 2 through No. 6 matches in singles. Senior Jack McLister and sophomore John Holtmann picked up a 6-2 win at first doubles before the second doubles team of senior Hank Hill and sophomore Yili Zheng pulled out a tight 7-6 victory to snatch the doubles point.
In singles play, Zheng lost a tough three-set match at No. 1 by a score of 3-6 6-4 6-4, but the Huskies dominated throughout the rest of the singles lineup. Holtmann cruised to a 6-4 6-1 win at No. 2, Hill earned a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 victory at No. 3, and McLister rolled to a 6-2 6-3 triumph at No. 4. To close out the match, senior Justin Warren and freshman Christian Provenzano each pulled out first set tie breaks on their way to victory. Warren won 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 at No. 5 while Provenzano claimed the point at No. 6, winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
On Sunday, UConn was able to win their second straight match with a tight 4-3 triumph over Hofstra at Magic Lincer Tennis Club in Manchester. The Huskies were again able to claim the doubles point, this time by sweeping all three matches. Hill and Zheng rolled to a 6-1 win at first doubles, McLister and Holtmann won 6-4 at second doubles, and Provenzano and Warren rounded out the doubles sweep with a 6-4 victory at No. 3.
In singles play, three matches went to a decisive third set. Zheng fell at first singles in a tight 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 defeat and McLister failed to hold on after taking the first set, losing 5-7 6-2 6-4 at first singles. Warren was able to pick up the first singles point for the Huskies, winning 6-1 6-3 at No. 5. Holtmann added the second singles victory, claiming the match at No. 2 by a score of 6-2 7-5. With the match on the line, Provenzano dropped the opening set at No. 6, but was able to rally and earn UConn an undefeated weekend with a 5-7 6-2 6-4 win.
Next weekend, the Huskies will look to continue their winning ways as they host East Carolina, Fairfield, and Bucknell at the East Hartford Tennis Club.
Story Salit is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus and can be reached via email at story.salit@uconn.edu.
