Box Score Williamsburg, KY – UC men's tennis fell in their 2018 home opener  6-1 to Union Thursday afternoon at the UC Tennis Court.  With the win the Bulldogs improve to 3-1, while the Patriots move to 0-3.

Union got on the board first with an 8-1 win at #2 doubles.  No. one doubles saw Martin Barbier and Rodrigo Ratte trading points with Mateo Gonzalez and Srdan Pejic throughout the match.  Barbier and Ratte had the lead at 7-6, but the Bulldogs rallied to score the final two points and win the match 8-7.  The Patriots looked to get on the board at #3 doubles however Eric Banoub and Luis Montull dropped the tiebreaker to fall 9-8 (7-1) and give Union a 3-0 lead heading into singles play.

In singles play, the Patriots put up a fight at each spot.  Yusuke Matsuoka, playing #2, forced a first set tiebreaker against Pejic but ultimately fell 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 extending the deficit to 4-0.  Aatu Mereheimo got Cumberlands on the board with a three set win over Gonzalez.  Merenheimo won 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-1. 

At #1 singles, Barbier jumped out tom a quick lead winning the first set 6-3.  Louis Castellon battled back to win the second set 2-6 and won the third set 7-6 (7-4) to clinch the match for Union.  The Bulldogs added a point at #4 singles, while #5 and #6 were unable to finish due to darkness for the 6-1 final. 

The Patriots return to the court Wednesday, February 28, when they host Midway at 2 p.m. at the UC Tennis Complex.

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