MOBILE, Ala. -- The Asbury University tennis team battled hard for over four hours on Tuesday morning, but eventually fell to Union 6-3 in the NAIA National Championship opening round in Mobile.
The Eagles entered Tuesday's match on an 11-match winning streak and despite the loss, will still end the season with a respectable 13-4 record.
In doubles play, Asbury got off to a great start as Joshua Turnquest/Felipe Penuela rolled to a decisive 8-4 victory to give AU a 1-0 edge.
Luiz Gustavo Hartkopf/ Shane Mustor fell 8-5 at No. 3 doubles, but rallied back from a 5-0 deficit to make it a tight competitive match towards the end.
At No. 1 doubles, Choopat Suvimolstean/Aquille Trotman put the Eagles ahead 2-1 through doubles play, as they knocked off the No. 14 team in the nation 9-8 (7).
The duo led 7-2 and were in control looking for an easy victory, but Union came back to win five straight games to even up the match. AU would hold on to win in an exciting tiebreaker at 9-7 to decide the match.
In singles play, the Eagles gave the No. 9 Bulldogs all they could handle. Early on Joshua Turnquest, Choopat Suvimolstean, and Julian Tellez all won their first sets in their matches to give Asbury a slight advantage, as they needed only three more wins to clinch the match.
However, only Turnquest would be able to hold on for a win, as he won 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
Suvimolstean fell 10-8 in a third-set tiebreaker at No. 2 singles, and Tellez was upended 6-1, 1-6, 1-6.
Singles competition
1. #21 Joshua Turnquest (ASB) def. #29 Lois Castellon (UNION) 7-6, 3-6, 6-1
2. Srdan Pejic (UNION) def. Choopat Suvimolstean (ASB) 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 10-8
3. Simon Campos (UNION) def. Luiz Hartkopf (ASB) 6-2, 6-2
4. Santiago Diaz Lopez (UNION) def. Aquille Trotman (ASB) 6-3, 6-4
5. Mark Kuhnel (UNION) def. Julian Tellez (ASB) 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Mateo Gonzalez (UNION) def. Felipe Penuela (ASB) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Choopat Suvimolstean/Aquille Trotman (ASB) def. #14 Srdan Pejic/Simon Campos (UNION) 9-8 (9-7)
2. Joshua Turnquest/Felipe Penuela (ASB) def. Lois Castellon/Mark Kuhnel (UNION) 8-4
3. Santiago Diaz Lopez/Ewan McKinne (UNION) def. Luiz Hartkopf/Shane Mustor (ASB) 8-5
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,5,4,2,1)
