COLUMBIA, S.C.  – In the program's first-ever meeting with the Benedict Tigers (5-3, 5-1 SIAC), the Converse University men's tennis team (4-1) came home victorious with a 6-1 victory over the host Tigers. It is the second match Converse has won this season by a 6-1 decision.

Sophomore Stanley Waters and freshman Manuel Roncero kicked off the doubles point for the Valkyries with a 6-0 sweep at No. 3 doubles. Junior Leopold Morel and freshman Takuma Furumaki, making his first appearance at No. 1 doubles, sealed the point with a 6-3 victory at the highest court.

Roncero was the first to finish during singles play as he rolled past his opponent at No. 5 singles: 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Ben Hyde-Smith put Converse one point away from victory as he nearly did the same with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles.

It was sophomore Marty Letessier who secured the victory for Converse with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles.

The Valkyries were far from finished as Furumaki secured his second win of the day with 6-2, 6-4 victory at the second highest court for the Valkyries. Waters took his opponent to the wire after dropping the first set 6-3, rebounding to win set two 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 7-3. With the match decided, Waters kept things close but fell 10-8.

Morel also needed three sets in his match. He first took a 7-6 first set, securing a 7-3 tiebreaker. After falling in the set-two tiebreaker 7-4, he bounced back and won the first-to-ten third set 10-5, securing the 6-1 victory for Converse

Next Up For Converse:

The Valkyries return to the courts on Sunday, March 3 as they kickoff their 2024 home slate against the Emory & Henry Wasps at 1 P.M.

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