The No. 2-ranked Emory men's tennis team opened play in the NCAA D-III Championships on a successful note on Saturday, posting a second-round win over North Carolina Wesleyan. The Eagles won their 10th straight match and boosted their overall record to 18-4 following a 5-1 decision over the Bishops who closed out their year at 20-5. Emory is serving as the host site for this weekend's opening rounds.
The teams split the two points of the match with each squad claiming a doubles win. Emory got on the board first after the No. 2 team of sophomore Adrien Bouchet and junior Max Renke posted an 8-4 triumph over David Chang and Richard Gende. After NCWC countered with a victory at the No. 3 spot, the Eagles moved ahead by a 2-1 margin after junior Scott Rubinstein and sophomore James Spaulding battled their way to a 9-8 (7-3) outcome at No. 1 over Sebastian Sikh and Ioannis Brokakis, the duo's 14th winning performance in 22 outings this spring.
Senior Josh Goodman gave the Eagles some breathing room, after topping Chang at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-0, upping his spring record to 15-4 (18-5 overall). Junior Alec Josepher put the Eagles one point from clinching the match with his 6-4, 6-3, win over David Appelqvist raising his overall slate to 19-7. Bouchet closed out the contest with a 6-1, 6-2, verdict against J.D. Telles at No. 3, his eighth straight triumph and 16th in 22 decisions this season.
The win sends Emory into Sunday's third round (May 14) where it will play either Washington and Lee or Sewanee. The match is slated for a noon pm start with the winner advancing to the national quarterfinals in Chattanooga, Tennessee (May 22).