The nationally 4th ranked Barton Community College men's tennis team began its season this weekend at Kearney, Nebraska, with a pair of contests against NCAA Division II opponents.
On Saturday, the Cougars took on St. Mary's University out of Texas, with the Rattlers (7-1 on the season) winning 6-1. Wrapping up the trip Sunday against Augustana University (SD), the Cougars again won a singles match, in falling 5-1.
With short turnaround, the Cougars will be joined by the ladies squad on Tuesday for a 4:00 p.m. tangle with Friends University in Wichita.
In Saturday's action, Charles Alipoe picked up the lone victory in the No. 1 singles slot, earning a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Leonardo Fabbri. The Cougars nearly pulled out another victory in the No. 4 slot, Armando Sigauque dropping the first set 8-6 in the tie breaker but bouncing back with a 6-3 win before dropping the third 10-7.
Raphael Ankrah earned the lone victory on Sunday, edging Augustana's Jose Velasco on 6-4, 6-3 scores in the No. 2 matchup. The duo of Santiago Villarroya and Esi Molefe battled in the No. 2 tandem, falling short 8-6 in the tiebreak.
Results versus St. Mary's University
Doubles: No. 1: Charles Alipoe / Raphael Ankrah lost to Ollie Eriksson / Nikita Gavrilonoks: 8-5
No. 2: Santiago Villarroya / Esi Molefe lost to Diego Alvarez / Fabian Rosales: 8-6
No. 3: Armando Sigauque / Kristian Tesevic lost to Florian Smalto / Victor Velter: 8-3
Singles: No. 1: Charles Alipoe defeated Leonardo Fabbri: 6-4, 7-5
No. 2: Raphael Ankrah lost to Lu Castillo Sanchez: 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: Santiago Villarroya lost to Nikita Gavrilonoks: 6-4, 6-2
No. 4: Armando Sigauque lost to Victor Velter: 7-6 (6), 3-6, 10-7
No. 5: Esi Molefe lost to Lincoln Baldonado: 6-3, 6-4
No. 6: Kristian Tesevic lost to Fabian Rosales: 6-2, 6-1
Results versus Augustana University
Doubles: No. 1: Charles Alipoe / Raphael Ankrah lost to Tadeusz Michalowski / Pedro Pinto: 6-3
No. 2: Santiago Villarroya / Esi Molefe lost to Jose Velasco / Clayton Poppenga: 7-6 (6)
No. 3: Armando Sigauque / Kristian Tesevic lost to Thomas Kano / Drew Gohl: 8-3
Singles: No. 1: Charles Alipoe lost to Tadeusz Michalowski: 6-4, 6-2
No. 2: Raphael Ankrah defeated Jose Velasco: 6-4, 6-3
No. 3: Santiago Villarroya lost to Thomas Kano: 6-1, 7-6
No. 4: Armando Sigauque versus Enzo Moretti: No Result
No. 5: Esi Molefe lost to Maximilian Schmidt: 6-3, 6-1
No. 6: Kristian Tesevic lost to Clayton Poppenga: 6-2, 6-4