Wabash and Denison met on the courts of the Collett Tennis Center Friday evening just days after both North Coast Athletic Conference teams were ranked in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region polls. The Big Red scored victories in the final four singles matches to earn a 6-3 win.
The Little Giants trailed 2-1 at the conclusion of the doubles matches. The third flight team of Will Pelak and Ryan Waldon picked up a victory for Wabash with a 9-8 (7-3) win over Denison's Tom Hodgkiss-Lilly and Evan Verbofsky.
Pelak and Jordan Buehler faced off at number one singles in a battle of regional-ranked individuals. The Wabash freshman received a 10th-place ranking in the last ITA poll, while Buehler was 20th. Pelak proved his ranking with a three-set victory, winning 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.
Luke Bielawski scored a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win at number two singles to put Wabash in front 3-2. The Big Red responded with wins in the final four matches to take the contest. Junior Jay Horrey forced his third singles flight to three sets before falling to Randy Lofgren 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Wabash falls to 6-9 for the season with the loss and 2-2 in NCAC matches. The Big Red are now 4-2 and 1-0 in league play. The Little Giants will play host to the annual Kerry Seward Memorial Tennis Tournament next Saturday and Sunday.