Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SUMTER, S.C.  – Behind eight singles wins across both matches, the Converse University men's tennis team (3-1) defeated the USC Sumter Fire Ants (3-3) and the Coker Cobras (0-4). After losing the doubles point in both matches, the Valkyries rebounded to win both matches by a final score of 4-3.

Match One: Converse 4, USC Sumter 3

Much to the surprise of the Valkyrie faithful, the Fire Ants captured the doubles point, winning close matches at No. 1 and No. 2. Sophomore Stanley Waters and freshman Ben Hyde-Smith dominated their opponents at No. 3 doubles, claiming the only court during the point for the Valkyries.

With work to be done, the Valkyries began to chip away at the one-point advantage. Freshman Takuma Furumaki kicked things off as he evened the match with a 7-5, 63 victory at No. 2 singles. The Valkyries claimed the lead when junior Leopold Morel won at No. 4 singles. After taking set one 7-6, winning the tiebreaker 7-5, he cruised to a second-set victory of 6-1.

Junior Cameron Davies took No. 6 singles in two sets, 6-3 and 6-2, to put the Valkyries on point from claiming the match.

Freshman Manuel Roncero sealed the match with a three-set victory at No. 3 singles. He fell in set one 7-6, losing the tiebreaker 7-5, but bounced back and won set two 6-3 and cruised to take the final set 6-1 and the match 4-3 in favor of the Valkyries.

Match Two: Converse 4, Coker 3

The Valkyries again opened the match by dropping the doubles point and winning one court. This time that court was No. 1 doubles where Morel and sophomore Marty Letessier took a hard-fought 7-5 victory.

Morel started off the Valkyries with a sweep at No. 3 singles, winning both sets 6-0. Letessier kept the momentum rolling with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles.

After falling in set one, Furumaki bounced back and won sets two and three by a score of 6-3, once again putting the Valkyries one win away from securing the match.

That victory came as Waters claimed his first set 6-3 and after falling in a close second set, won the match easily 6-1, giving Converse the 4-3 victory.

Next Up For Converse:

The Valkyries return to the courts on Saturday, Feb. 24 as they head to Columbia to take on the Benedict Tigers at 10 A.M.

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