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March 29, 2024 7:19 am

Trojans defeat Converse, Barton to advance to semifinals

FLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 6 seeded Trojans registered two victories on the opening day of the Conference Carolinas Championship on April 21 to advance to the semifinals, posting a 4-3 win against Converse in the first round before defeating Barton by a 4-1 margin in the quarterfinals.

With the wins, the University of Mount Olive men’s tennis team improved to 12-9 overall and makes a fourth straight trip to the semifinals of the league tournament.

In the first round versus Converse, UMO claimed the doubles point after winning two of three matches during the session. Junior Guiherme Zotin de Oliveira and freshman Daniel Hammond delivered a 6-2 win over Marty Letessier and Leopold Morel at No. 1 doubles. Juniors Adam Ibrahim and Diego Ortaga Cadahia were dealt a 6-2 loss by Enzo Marcheschi and Merlin Bellet in the second position before sophomore Elois Briand and freshman Bram Poel responded with a 7-5 win over Paul Berrouet and Gregoire Legrand at the third slot.

The Trojans secured the match victory after winning three of the six singles contests. At No. 1 singles, de Oliveira was forced to retire due to injury after trailing 6-0, 2-1 to Bellet. The Valkyries pulled ahead after Ibrahim suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss in the third position versus Berrouet before Poel tied the contest at 2-2 after recording a 6-1, 7-5 win over Marcheschi in the fourth slot. Converse countered at No. 5 singles after senior Israel Rodriguez Rojas fell by a 6-0, 6-3 margin to Letessier to reclaim a 3-2 edge. The Trojans earned wins in the final two matches after Hammond produced a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 victory over Legrand in the second position, while freshman Kabir Chhabria clinched the match with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 versus Morel.

In the quarterfinal against Barton, the Trojans produced wins in the first and third sessions in doubles action to claim the opening point. de Oliveira and Hammond collected a 6-4 victory over Wilhelm Karlsson and Johan Holgersson before Briand and Poel posted a 6-4 win against Hannes Tylehed and Felipe Mioch. The No. 2 doubles match was left unfinished after UMO won the initial two contests.

Mount Olive registered three wins of the four completed singles matches to advance to the semifinals. de Oliveria delivered a dominant performance in a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Tylehed in the first position, while Hammond followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles versus Mioch. The Bulldogs countered after Ibrahim suffered a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 loss to Holgersson to cut into the deficit. Rodriguez Rojas would clinch the match win after recording 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 decision versus Guillem Busquets Brau.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics