Sterling loses 4-3 to Bethel, rise to no. 32 in ITA rankings

Sterling College men's tennis lost to the Bethel College Threshers with a 4-3 outcome in a match that came down to the wire on Thursday, April 10 at home.

The Warriors were swept in doubles play, which gave the Threshers the point advantage and the edge needed to stay on top.

In no. 1 doubles play, Pedro Felipoff and Angel Marin took on Zaidh Zihar and Petr Kollar, losing 6-1. Kazuki Fukushima and Kyosuke Ishida lost the no. 2 doubles match 6-1 to Jorge Gabriel Batista and Jonah Bergeron. In the no. 3 doubles match, Louis Boisdenghien and Adam King battled against Billy Haoda and James Menard, losing 6-4.

Sterling started to turn things around in the singles play, starting with Felipoff who goe the win in no. 1 singles over Batista, winning the first set 6-1, losing the second 6-3, and winning the tiebreaker set 6-1. Yohann Molle lost the no. 2 singles match 6-3, 6-3 to Kollar. In no. 3 singles play, Boisdenghien got the 6-1, 6-4 win over Zihar.

King took Hoada to three sets in the no. 4 singles match, losing the first 6-2, winning the second 6-4 and losing the tiebreaker 6-0. In the no. 5 singles contest, Marin lost 6-3, 6-2 to Rodrigo Sanchez Hurtado. Patricio Cifuentes Aguilar finished the day with a win in the no. 6 singles position, losing the first set 6-3, before winning the second set 6-2 and getting the tiebreaker victory, 1-0.

The Warriors also moved up in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, going from no. 37 to no. 32 in the NAIA Men's Collegiate Tennis Ranking that were released on April 10. For a complete list of rankings click HERE.

Sterling's next match is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 in Leavenworth Kan. as they take on St. Mary University.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.