Men's Tennis | 3/18/2019 10:02:00 AM

Atlanta, Ga. - SCAD played host to Milligan College in a conference showdown hot on the heels of Winter finals on Saturday. It was the second conference match of the season for the men's team, and the third for the women. Both teams found a way forward, remaining undefeated in conference play so far as the men came from behind for a 6-3 win while the women never lost control in their 7-2 victory.

The match started with a stark contrast between the men's and women's teams from SCAD. The Bees surged to the forefront on the women's side, with the undefeated team of Simran Kejriwal and Katrina De Guzman claiming the #1 doubles point 8-1. Milligan leveled the match at 1-1 when they took #3 doubles, but the pairing of Homan and Hull edged #2 doubles 9-7 to reclaim the lead. SCAD struggled early in the men's doubles, however. With injuries forcing a forfeit at #3 doubles the men had a hill to climb. Martinez and Monardo stepped up for the SCAD men to take #2 doubles 8-2. #1 doubles came down to the wire, before the Milligan pair nosed in front to win it 9-7 and give Milligan a 2-1 lead.

The tenor of the matches changed in the singles. The SCAD women's team came out strongly with easy wins at #1, #2, and #5 singles. Simran Kejriwal demolished her opponent with a 6-1, 6-0 win at line #1, followed closely by Katrina De Guzman's 6-1, 6-1 victory at #2. The match was clinched when Freshman Vivian Amaro also claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win at #5 singles. The Bees did not let up, with both Giuliana Hull and Millie Smythe pulling clear of their opponents for straight sets wins after tightly-fought first sets. Milligan was able to claim their lone singles point at #6, giving the SCAD women a comfortable 7-2 victory.

The SCAD men had their work cut out for them. Down 2-1, they had to win at least 4 of the 6 contested singles matches in the race to 5 points. A quick loss at #6 raised the mountain a little higher as the Buffalos moved up 3-1 in the match score. Lautaro Monardo pulled one back for the Bees as he ground out a relentless 6-2, 6-0 win at #4 singles to bring the SCAD team back within one. Jordan Skalet was always in control at #2 singles, his 6-1, 6-1 win leveling the overall match score. When Freshman Ernesto Martinez clinched #1 singles 6-2, 6-2, the Bees had the lead on the men's side for the first time in the day. Freshman Rubin Howard struggled to take his first set, but then pulled clear for a 7-5, 6-0 win at #5 singles. With the match in hand, Freshman Alan Toleu continued his strong performance in the third set this season with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win.

The Bees head on the road next, playing Xavier University and William Carey before heading North for two more conference matchups at Tennessee Wesleyan and Bluefield.

SCAD Atlanta (W) 7 - Milligan (W) 2

#1 Doubles: Kejriwal/De Guzman (SCAD) def. Hill/Grady (MC) 8-1
#2 Doubles: Homan/Hull (SCAD) def. Light/Jones (MC) 9-7
#3 Doubles: Peterson/Martin (MC) def. Amaro/Smythe (SCAD) 8-5

#1 Singles: Simran Kejriwal (SCAD) def. Lexie Hill (MC) 6-1, 6-0
#2 Singles: Katrina De Guzman (SCAD) def. Chessa Jones (MC) 6-1, 6-1
#3 Singles: Giuli Hull (SCAD) def. Minda Martin (MC) 6-3, 6-0
#4 Singles: Millie Smythe (SCAD) def. Karson Light (6-4, 6-0)
#5 Singles: Vivian Amaro (SCAD) def. McKenzie Grady (MC) 6-1, 6-1
#6 Singles: Marliana Peterson (MC) def. Madie Homan (SCAD) 6-3, 6-3

SCAD Atlanta 6 - Milligan 3

#1 Doubles: Greer/Grealman (MC) def. Toleu/Skalet (SCAD) 9-7
#2 Doubles: Martinez/Monardo (SCAD) def. Mosely/Leonard (MC) 8-2
#3 Doubles: Lyttle/Allison (MC) def. no player/no player by default

#1 Singles: Ernesto Martinez (SCAD) def. Mason Greer 6-2, 6-2
#2 Singles: Jordan Skalet (SCAD) def. Taylor Grealman (MC) 6-1, 6-1
#3 Singles: Alan Toleu (SCAD) def. Charley Mosely (MC) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
#4 Singles: Lautaro Monardo (SCAD) def. Joe Lyttle (MC) 6-2, 6-0
#5 Singles: Rubin Howard (SCAD) def. Griffin Leonard (MC) 7-5, 6-0
#6 Singles: Thomas Hurt (MC) def. Brian Johnson (SCAD) 6-0, 6-0