BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Cameron Burkes provided the clinching point in the Oglethorpe men's tennis team's seventh straight win Sunday, a 5-4 victory over Birmingham Southern on the road.
The Stormy Petrels improved to 10-1 (5-0 Southern Athletic Association) and remained atop the SAA standings with their perfect league record.
Burkes gave the team the clinching fifth point in a 4-3 match at the time, winning his ninth match of the season and coincidentally his ninth straight match. He defeated Tom Smith at No. 6 singles 7-4 in a tiebreak of the second set after winning the first set 6-2. Vincent Claussen won at No. 3 singles and Zoe Raymond won at No. 5 singles, both in straight sets. Raymond's match improved him to 9-0 this season.
Oglethorpe also took what proved to be a key point in winning two of the three doubles matches. This included Claussen and Kirkman Kiker winning 7-2 in a tiebreak at No. 2 doubles and Raymond and Burkes winning 8-1 at No. 3 doubles.
Match Notes
- This marked the closest win of the season so far for the Petrels, and the only match to be decided 5-4.
- The Petrels improved to 6-1 away from their home court.
- Kiker also had a chance to provide the clinching point but fell 6-4 in the third set.
- Daniel Cohen suffered his first singles loss of the season, falling to 10-1.
- Burkes (9-1) and Raymond (9-0) trail Cohen by one in the singles wins column.
- Burkes and Raymond also improved to a team-leading 9-2 doubles record.
Up Next
Oglethorpe has a week off before returning to play for the final week of the regular season. The Petrels host Centre April 23 and Sewanee April 24. The SAA postseason tournament is set for Friday-Sunday, April 29 – May 1.
