ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team honored Sam Walker on Senior Day, as the Tritons swept the Saints 7-0 at the Bullard Courts on Sunday afternoon. The Tritons have now won five straight at home.
The Tritons (5-4) defeated St. Scholastica (5-6) by taking the doubles point, and all six singles matches.
The Tritons took all three doubles matches to win the doubles point. Batu Ataseven and Esteve Augusti took down the Saints' top pairing of Jonas Abelda and Eamon Gerrard-Stace by a score of 6-2. Sam Walker and Eric Asakura picked up a win in the No. 2 draw 6-2. Christian Kearns and Jon William Karlstad rounded out the doubles point sweep for Eckerd with a 6-1 victory.
In singles action, the Tritons cruised past the Saints with ease. Ataseven and Asakura both nearly shut out their opponents, with Ataseven winning 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 1 slot, and Asakura winning 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 3 position. After a close first set of 7-5, Kearns took the No. 2 draw in two sets, defeating Gerrard Stace 6-2. On his senior day, Sam Walker defeated Alex Daigneault 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 4 spot. Phil Grueninger added another win for the Tritons in the No. 5 slot 6-4, 6-3. Arik Suez rounded out the singles sweep for Eckerd after dropping the first set 6-2 to rally 6-2, 10-3 to take the No. 6 draw.
The Tritons are home at the Bullard Courts on Monday to face St. Mary's University (Texas), with first serve at 3:00 PM.
Singles competition
1.
Batu Ataseven (ECM) def. Jonas Abelda (SSM) 6-0, 6-1
2.
Christian Kearns (ECM) def. Eamon Gerrard-Stace (SSM) 7-5, 6-2
3.
Eric Asakura (ECM) def. Julius Tabrizi (SSM) 6-1, 6-0
4.
Sam Walker (ECM) def. Alex Daigneault (SSM) 6-2, 6-2
5.
Phil Grueninger (ECM) def. Jack Onkka (SSM) 6-4, 6-3
6.
Arik Suez (ECM) def. Harper Dircks (SSM) 2-6, 6-2, 10-3
Doubles competition
1.
Batu Ataseven/
Esteve Augusti (ECM) def. Jonas Abelda/Eamon Gerrard-Stace (SSM) 6-2
2.
Sam Walker/
Eric Asakura (ECM) def. Jack Onkka/Julius Tabrizi (SSM) 6-2
3.
Christian Kearns/
Jon William Karlstad (ECM) def. Harper Dircks/Alex Daigneault (SSM) 6-1
