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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
3
Otterbein OTTM (7-7)
6
Winner John Carroll JCUM (7-6)
Otterbein OTTM
(7-7)
3
Final
6
John Carroll JCUM
(7-6)
Winner
Kevin Wacnik
Diona Johnson
Kevin Wacnik boosted JCU big-time with a No. 4 singles win and a No. 2 doubles extravaganza.

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Men's Tennis Conquers Cardinals, Extending OAC Win Streak to 60 Matches

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- At the Short Family Tennis Center on Saturday, the John Carroll Men's Team ensured their lengthy conference winning streak would not end, as the Blue Streaks hit 60 straight Ohio Athletic Conference victories with a 6-3 conquest of the Otterbein Cardinals. 

The Blue Streaks fired past Otterbein in a rematch of last season's OAC Championship duel. 

"We're trying to defend our title, and they're who we played last year, so it was a big match," said Kevin Wacnik. "We were really focused today."

The Blue Streaks and Cardinals split the first two doubles matches. Mark Beebe and Gustavo Garcia won a spirited No. 1 doubles contest, earning the 8-4 victory. Meanwhile, Otterbein evened things up at No. 3, as Luis Wentz and Nathan Palinkas dropped an 8-2 decision.

The turning point of the day was No. 2 doubles. As the teams looked on, waiting to begin singles, Kevin Wacnik and Logan Langovsky took center stage. The JCU tandem stood ahead early before the Cardinals came roaring back. In the end, Wacnik and Langovsky bore down and got the job done, securing a narrow 8-7 conquest. 

"Doubles is one of the most important things in Division III," said Wacnik. "Getting that extra point was crucial leading into singles and a win for our team. Doubles did a great job today, that was a key factor in us winning the whole match."

Gustavo Garcia set the tone for singles with a win, but a hard-fought one at No. 1, in 6-1, 6-3 fashion. Kevin Wacnik followed suit, firing to a 6-4, 6-3 conquest at No. 4.

So, the Blue Streaks stood ahead at 4-1, needing one more victory to keep the lengthy streak alive. 

In steps Logan Langovsky. The sophomore stood on his head to make the victory happen in the second of two lengthy matches. He tallied a 6-3, 6-3 conquest to clinch a win for JCU, the team's 60th straight OAC victory.

Soon after, Mark Beebe provided more cushion. The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin grad won the first set, 6-2, before stumbling in the second, 6-4. But he finished things off with a dominant third set, 6-2. 

Alvaro Rosabal and Nathan Palinkas also needed extra time, as both No. 5 and No. 6 singles required three sets. 

Rosabal finished first, but fell short in a lengthy duel. He won the opening set, 6-1, before suffering a difficult 7-5 defeat in the second set. The rubber match went to his foe, as Rosabal dropped a 6-3 third set.

Palinkas had to withdraw after a lengthy third set battle, so the Cardinals got the 6-3 win.

John Carroll will look to build on the win, as the team will be busy next week after not playing any matches for a few weeks.

"Rust was definitely a factor," said Wacnik. "I don't think I was hitting very well this week, and a lot of us were not in our best positions, but we persevered through it and won the match today. Next week we'll train more, wipe out the rest of the rust and move forward."
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