| Special to: The Bluffton News (April 17), The Witmarsum (April 18), Alumni e-newsletter (April 15), but you read it here first. |
For the first time since Bluffton joined the HCAC prior to the 1999 season, the Beavers defeated Anderson University, with that victory taking place April 9 on the Raven’s home courts. BC pulled out a 5-4 win to knock off Anderson, which finished second in the conference last season after winning the HCAC title in 2001.
On April 12 in a tri-match at Manchester, Bluffton defeated Franklin 8-1 and fell to Manchester 3-6 to see its record now stand at 5-4 overall as the Beavers head into this, the last week of the season. BC will travel to Ohio Northern Monday afternoon as a final test prior to the HCAC championships, which will take place Friday and Saturday at IUPUI.
Three players all were a perfect 3-0 in their singles matches last week, including junior Owen Beck at #1 singles, sophomore Kyle Sprunger at #4 singles and freshman Kent Leichty at #6 singles.
Against Anderson, Beck (#1), junior Brad Boyles (#2), Sprunger (#4) and Leichty (#6) were all winners in singles action, while Boyles and Sprunger teamed up to win at No. 2 doubles. Against Franklin, Beck, Boyles, senior Dan Wott (#3), Sprunger and Leichty all won their singles matches, while Beck and Wott won at #1 doubles, Boyles and Sprunger won at #2 doubles and senior David Barnes and freshman Pete Martin won at #3 doubles. Against Manchester, who ranks second in the league, Bluffton winners included Beck, Sprunger and Leichty.
