The Wabash College tennis team won its second consecutive and first North Coast Athletic Conference Western Division match of the season on Wednesday night with a 5-2 victory over in-state rival Earlham College at the Collett Tennis Center. The victory puts the Little Giants at 5-3 for the season and 1-0 in the NCAC West.
Wabash opened the night with two wins in the doubles’ matches to take the team point. Seniors Mike Lynch (Evansville, IN/Evansville North) and Constantine Alexander (Kokomo, IN/Kokomo) were 8-6 winners at number one doubles, while fellow senior Cameron Starnes (Crawfordsville, IN/Crawfordsville) and freshman Adam Van Zee (Logansport, IN/Logansport) clinched the point with an 8-2 win at number three doubles.
Lynch came back in the number one singles match and fought a tough, three-set match against Earlham’s Charlie DiLalla. Lynch took the first set 6-4, but dropped the second 2-6. He rallied in the third to earn a 6-3 win, his second consecutive win at number one singles and fourth of the season.
Alexander took a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory at number two singles, his fourth win of the season, as well. Junior Nathan Cain (Columbus, IN/Columbus North) sealed the victory for the Little Giants with a 6-2, 6-2 win at number three singles. Van Zee added the final team point with a come-from-behind, three-set victory at number six singles (2-6, 6-3, 6-2).
Wabash will play Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Collett Tennis Center before traveling to California over spring break next week.