Bears Topple College Of Charleston For First Win Of Season

Friday, February 7

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

College of Charleston

Bears Topple College Of Charleston For First Win Of Season

2/7/2025 7:09:00 PM | Men's Tennis

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By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Home-standing Mercer yielded just seven games on the way to grabbing all three doubles matches, and then took four singles matches in straight sets on the way to a 5-2 victory over the College of Charleston on Friday afternoon at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center.

It was the first dual meet victory of the spring for the Bears (1-2) who notched a win in their home opener for the fourth-straight season. The Cougars (0-2) fell to 3-1 all-time in the series with the Orange & Black. Saturday's contest marked the first meeting between the two squads in 13 seasons.

Mercer's tandem of Howell Burns and newcomer Shingo Masuda made short work of their College of Charleston counterparts via a 6-1 win on court No. 3. The nation's 67^th-ranked duo of Marceau Fouilhoux and Nemanja Stefanovic wrapped up the key doubles point for the Bears nine minute later with a 6-2 rout of C of C's Jake Sweeney and Mattia Bernardi.

Junior Amen Prince Gandonou utilized just 62 minutes on the way to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Eddie Vo that gave the hosts their first singles win of the afternoon, but the Cougars cut their team deficit back to 2-1. The roads were decorated with Orange & Black for the next 22 minutes, however, as the Bears reeled off four-straight singles victories, all in straight sets, to clinch the team win.

That stretch of victories was highlighted by Tom Hagelauer's matchup on court No. 5. The MU newcomer dropped a tough 6-4 decision in his opening set with the College of Charleston's Jake Smith, but rebounded with a dominant 6-1 win in the second set before toughing out a 6-4 win in the deciding third set.

The Bears will close out their two-match home stand on Sunday when they suit up to take on Gardner-Webb (5-1) at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center. First serves are scheduled for 11 a.m. and admission is free.