ABILENE, Texas -- Eighth-ranked Trinity (Texas) opened the spring season with wins against Division II McMurry and Division I Abilene Christian at the ACU Indoors on Friday.
Trinity bested McMurry 6-3 to open the season earlier in the day, then finished with a thrilling 5-4 win against hosting Abilene Christian. The clinch match in each case was won by Jordan Mayer, who captured No. 5 singles in both.
The Tigers fell behind 0-3 after doubles, but rallied by sweeping singles play to defeat McMurry. Greg Haugen swept a 6-3, 6-1 match at No. 3 singles to spark the comeback for Trinity. Paxton Deuel then took a straight-set win from the top position, followed by Nico Moreno (fourth slot), and Aaron Skinner (line two). Skinner rallied for a 6-7, 7-6, 10-6 win in his match, setting up Mayer's clincher.
Mayer outfought his No. 5 singles opponent 6-7, 6-1, 10-5. The No. 6 singles match went to Charlie Curtis, who won a barn-burner 6-4, 4-6, 14-12.
Trinity was again down after doubles against ACU, dropping two of the three matches. Deuel and Moreno fell 6-4 in the No. 1 slot, and Mayer and Clayton Niess lost 6-5 at No. 2. Haugen and Skinner kept the Tigers in the hunt by winning No. 3 doubles 6-4.
The Tigers then took four of six singles matches, starting once again with Haugen’s (6-2, 6-1) victory in the No. 3 position. Skinner then won No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-4, followed by Deuel and a three-setter 2-6, 6-5, 6-3 in the top spot. Moreno lost 6-5, 6-3 at No. 4 singles, but Mayer clinched the matchup with a 6-4, 6-5 win at No. 5. Curtis lost 6-5, 6-2 in No. 6 singles.
