By Jimmy Chau
Assistant Coach
ORANGE, Calif. - The Lewis & Clark men's tennis team opened their spring break trip to California on Wednesday with a 7-2 loss to #40 Chapman.
The results were mixed in doubles action, but the Pioneers received a good performance from Pim Trouerbach and Gordon Barrows. The duo defeated Justin Thompson and Hunter Morris 8-4 in the No. 1 spot. The Pioneers were able to navigate the swirling winds of the day with tight net play and big overheads from both players.
The team of Daniel Hahm and Harrison Collins again started slow and couldn't get it going quick enough to catch up to the steady team from Chapman. The Pio pair fell 8-4.
Keane Hindle and Cameron Smith played the tightest doubles match of the day with both teams trading breaks late into the match. After numerous deuce points, break point opportunities and staving off match points, the Pios succumbed to the Panthers 8-6 to give them a 2-1 lead going into singles action.
Playing without a few of their top players today, the Pios would face an uphill battle the rest of the way. Hahm had one of his toughest outings of the year with a 6-0, 6-1 loss to at the No. 1 singles spot to Thompson who just did not give Hahm much to work with.
G. Barrows dropped a close first set that ended with him suffering an injury. Unable to continue after a valiant effort, G. Barrows had to ultimately retire early in the second set. Trouerbach also came up with a big effort but fell just short in a 6-4, 7-6 (3) loss to Charlie Werman.
The Pios did have a strong showing from sophomore
Parker Nichols who played big in his 6-2, 6-3 win over Hunter Morris.
Brenden Barrows put up a solid effort over Sam Mittledorf but fell 6-4, 6-1.
The Pios travel to face Pomona Pitzer on Friday, March 27.
