Jordan Sibley-Diggs returns a shot against Central March 1, 2024

Meredith Mahoney

Men’s Tennis Sneaks Past Colby-Sawyer to Open Spring Break Trip

Titans took down Chargers, 5-4

3/11/2024 9:54:00 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team picked up a hard-fought win over Colby Sawyer College Monday evening, March 11, to open its spring break trip. The Titans snuck past the Chargers, 5-4, to improve to 6-2 on the season, while Colby-Sawyer dipped to 3-5. With the win, Illinois Wesleyan ties the best start to a season since 2020-21.

IWU jumped out to a 2-1 advantage after doubles play, as the Titans locked in wins at No. 1 and 3. At the top spot, sophomore Ian Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) and senior Ryan McCoy (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows) secured the win with an 8-3 decision. Freshman Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) and sophomore Griffin Hammond (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) paired up at No. 3, and utilized a tiebreaker to pick up an 8-7 (4) victory.

It was in singles play where the Titans would grind out the win, though, as all three individual match wins for the Green and White saw bonus action. Moving up to the No. 1 singles spot, sophomore Ben Vigneri (Casper, Wyo.-Phillips Exeter Academy) took the first set, 6-1, before using a tiebreaker in the second set to pick up the victory with a set score of 7-6 (5). At No. 4 individuals, Dillow dropped his first set, 6-4, before fighting back to take the next two sets, 6-3, 10-4. Entering the match at No. 6 singles, senior Jordan Sibley-Diggs (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park & River Forest) came up clutch to secure the victory. Sibley-Diggs took the first set, 6-3, but fell in a tiebreaker in the second, 7-6 (5). Tied at one set all, Sibley-Diggs notched a 10-6 victory in the third to pick up the win, both individually and as a team.

Illinois Wesleyan will see a quick turnaround for two matches tomorrow, March 12 on its trip. The Titans are scheduled to take on St. Norbert College at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET, before facing Hampden-Sydney College at roughly 6 p.m. ET. Results will be posted on iwusports.com upon the completion of the matches.

Singles competition
1. Vigneri, Ben (IWU) def. Peyton Meuse (CSC) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Zsombor Homommay (CSC) def. McCoy, Ryan (IWU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Dillow, Thad (IWU) def. Ashton Meuse (CSC) 4-6, 6-3, 10-4
4. Aidan Jensen (CSC) def. Cross, Zeke (IWU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Leonardo Russo (CSC) def. Hammond, Griffin (IWU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
6. Sibley-Diggs, Jordan (IWU) def. Matthew Gaudioso (CSC) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Turnbull, Ian/McCoy, Ryan (IWU) def. Zsombor Homommay/Aidan Jensen (CSC) 8-3
2. Ashton Meuse/Matthew Gaudioso (CSC) def. Vigneri, Ben/Cross, Zeke (IWU) 8-6
3. Dillow, Thad/Hammond, Griffin (IWU) def. Peyton Meuse/Leonardo Russo (CSC) 8-7 (7-4)

Print Friendly Version