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Messiah Takes Big Conference Win At E'Town, 8-1
Posted: 4/11/2008
Box Score | More Men's Tennis news
Freshman Jansen Hein earned praise from his coach after Friday's match.

Elizabethtown, PA — Friday afternoon’s MAC Commonwealth meeting between host Elizabethtown College and Messiah College was billed as the biggest match of the seasons for both squads.

The result was anticlimactic in nature.

Messiah (7-6-1, 4-0) handed the Blue Jays an 8-1 defeat, completing the program’s third consecutive undefeated league season while securing an automatic bid to the MAC Commonwealth Championship match to be held Sunday, Apr. 20. The Falcons will face the winner of the MAC Commonwealth semi-final — to be played between Elizabethtown (5-5, 3-1) and Lebanon Valley College (9-3, 2-2) Saturday, Apr. 19 — for a chance at the program’s third straight league championship.

The Falcons' number two doubles team of senior William Tanis and junior Sam Shorts suffered the team’s only loss of the day Friday, dropping an 8-4 decision to Elizabethtown’s Brok Walker and Bryan Metz.

Messiah then responded with a dominating 6-0 run in singles play to capture the overall victory, taking all in straight sets. The win was the team’s fifth consecutive overall.

“Heading into the singles matches, it was still anyone’s match,” said Frank Petre, Messiah head coach. “I was very pleased with how we responded in singles play. We had a number of very impressive performances.”

Freshman Jansen Hein was the first to record a point in the solo sets, defeating the Blue Jays’ Metz by a 6-1, 6-0 score at the number four flight. Senior Nate Ipsen followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win at the top singles slot, pushing the Falcons’ lead from 2-1 after doubles play to a more comfortable 4-1 advantage. Ipsen’s singles win kept him undefeated in MAC Commonweatlh play.

“Jansen is coming into his own as a college tennis player,” Petre said. “He continues to improve match by match, and his focus and intensity have made a tremendous difference in our last five to six matches.”

Senior Jonathan Siemen collected Messiah’s third point in singles play with a 6-3, 6-0 win over E’Town’s Jeff Kirkhoff, fighting through pain to also finish undefeated in league play at the number two singles position.

“Jonathan showed a tremendous amount of spirit and courage by ignoring a severely strained back to compete in the match knowing the the significance of his role on the team,” Petre said. “I honestly think the other team members took some strength from Jonathan’s situation and committed themselves to play even harder.”

Shorts rebounded from his doubles loss to post a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 win at the number three singles position, while sophomore Luke Ruch delivered a 7-5, 6-4 win over the Blue Jayss’ Jim Dombach at the number six flight.

“Sam Shorts played a very heady and spirited match at the number three position,” Petre said. “He played steadily and within himself in a very competitive singles match. Luke Ruch continues to improve steadily as shown by his win at number six. He is perhaps our most improved player over the course of the season.”

Ipsen and Siemen completed their undefeated league season in top doubles play with an 8-3 win Friday. Hein and Ruch did the same with an 8-1 win at the number three flight.

“Nate and Jonathan dominated at the number one doubles position, while Hein and Ruch played perhaps their best match of the season in their win,” Petre said.

Messiah will next take a brief hiatus from conference play, traveling to Neumann College for a non-league meeting Tuesday. Match time is slated for 3:30 p.m.