OBU tennis team earned pair of wins in Kansas

By Kervy Robles, Sports Editor

Oklahoma Baptist’s tennis team visited Wichita, Kansas in search of a victory over Newman University Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Kevin Andrusch was the first Bison to make an appearance during match day.

“I won the first set, but my rival never gave up,” Andrusch said.

“He reacted by beating me in the second set. Even though he became fast and had powerful shots, I could win the match.”

Andrusch won the first single match by 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4. It was then time for sophomore Lucas Castelo Branco to set differences.

“Seeing Andrusch beating his opponent, highly motivated me,” Castelo said.

“I dominated 6-0 and 6-3.”

In the next single match, junior Luis Romero had to abandon the court due to an injury leaving a 3-6, 2-0 upset.

Previous to the injury, Romero and junior Thomas Ackerknecht gave the Bison the first win in doubles with an 8-5 match.

Freshman Matias Le Fort added a win to the Bison with a 6-3, 6-2 score.

“I knew it was important to win to extend our advantage,” Le Fort said. “So I did the best I could for myself and the team.”

Junior Ackerknecht struggled and registered a 5-7, 6-0, 1-6 match that gave OBU a momentary 5-2.

In doubles, freshmen Gianluca Galdi and Andrusch lost 8-5.

However, Castelo and Le Fort sentenced the afternoon for the Bison with a 8-2 victory giving OBU a 6-3 overall win against Newman.

On the other hand, the Lady Bison did not disappoint and earned an 8-1 overall victory.

Senior Olivia Charvat won its single match by 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 followed by freshman Kim Moosbacher with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

While freshman Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg suffered a 6-4, 2-4, 2-0 freshman Madeleine Boepple earned a win by 6-1, 6-0.

A couple more triumphs came in hands of sophomore Alex Bowers (6-0, 3-6, 6-4) and senior Alex Morales (6-3, 6-2).

In doubles competition, van Rensburg made up the upset by winning 8-0 together with Moosbacher.

Charvat and Boepple added a 8-6 win while Bowers and sophomore Caroline Abbe earned the last triumph of the afternoon with a 8-4 match for the Lady Bison.

The Bison will face Ouachita Baptist University April 7 at 1 p.m. at OBU, while the Lady Bison will compete Southern Nazarene University April 11 at 2 p.m. in Bethany, Okla.