Taylor Edges IU East for First Spring Victory
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor edged out IU East (4-9) in a tight battle on the court Monday night at the Taylor Tennis Complex, with the 4-3 victory the first of the spring for the Trojans.
Taylor scored the crucial point at doubles, with Josh Clegg and Andrew Roth beginning the night with a decisive 6-1 victory at No. 3 for an early advantage. After the Red Wolves countered with a 6-1 win at No. 2 to even it up, with No. 1 the deciding match. Tyler Lane and Graham Beukelman competed valiantly and wound up with a key 6-4 victory to secure the doubles point.
Clegg continued his terrific night with a comfortable win at No. 5 singles. The freshman took the first set 6-2 and did one better in the second with a 6-1 victory. Lane was the next to finish at No. 1 singles, matching the scoreline of Clegg to push TU's lead to 3-0 in the early going.
The Red Wolves responded by taking the next two singles matches to get within one. Ian Helfert fell 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles before Joseph Harper pushed his opponent to the limit in a narrow 7-5, 6-4 defeat.
The momentum was with IU East and Beukelman fell behind on No. 3 singles with a close 6-4 defeat in the opening set. The sophomore took the next set 6-3 to force a tiebreak, which he won for the match-clinching point for the Trojans.
Taylor (3-4) continues it spring season with its first Crossroads League opener against RV Bethel (3-0) on Saturday, March 21st, at 1:00 pm back at the Taylor Tennis Complex.
