Big Green Defeat Kentucky to Open ITA Kickoff Weekend

Saturday, January 26

New York, N.Y.

10:00 AM

Dartmouth College

Kentucky

Sophomore Dan Martin

Photo by: Doug Austin

Big Green Defeat Kentucky to Open ITA Kickoff Weekend

1/26/2019 1:43:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Box Score

By: Charlotte Brackett

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Dartmouth men's tennis came back after trailing by three to defeat Kentucky, 4-3, on the opening day of the ITA Kickoff Weekend.

"I'm really proud of how our guys battled today," head coach Chris Drake said. "To come back from 3-0 down is not easy against a really good SEC team like Kentucky. We kept our composure and executed very well in pressure situations. We're excited to get the win and play Columbia tomorrow."

Victories at the No. 3 and 2 doubles positions gave the Wildcats the first point and a slight lead heading into singles. Playing at the No. 1 position, juniors Charlie Broom and David Horneffer were up, 6-5, when their match went unfinished.

Kentucky turned that one-point advantage into a 3-0 lead following wins at the No. 1 and 5 positions, but four Big Green victories in a row gave the match to Dartmouth. Sophomore Peter Conklin had a 6-4, 7-5 win over Theo McDonald at the No. 4 spot, while Horneffer defeated Cesar Bourgois, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 at the No. 3 position. A 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory by freshman Sid Chari tied things up at 3-3.

With the match on the line for both teams, it all came down to play at the No. 2 position. Sophomore Dan Martin took down Enzo Wallart, 6-4, 7-5 to secure the win.

The Big Green will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. against host Columbia.

1) Bourgois/Wallart (UK) vs. Horneffer/Broom (Dartmouth), 5-6, DNF
2) Yamada/Matsumura (UK) def. Ross/Conklin (Dartmouth), 6-4
3) Penzkofer/Huempfner (UK) def. Martin/Widdecombe (Dartmouth), 6-3
Order of finish: 3,2

1) Matsumura (UK) def. No. 27 Broom (Dartmouth), 6-2, 6-2
2) Martin (Dartmouth) def. Wallart (UK), 6-4, 7-5
3) Horneffer (Dartmouth) def. Bourgois (UK), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
4) Conklin (Dartmouth) def. McDonald (UK), 6-4, 7-5
5) Yamada (UK) def. Ross (Dartmouth), 6-2, 6-1
6) Chari (Dartmouth) def. Huempfner (UK), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Order of finish: 1,5,4,3,6,2