HCAC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

INDIANAPOLIS – The Hanover College men's tennis team is heading back to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals after defeating Anderson 5-0 in the opening round at West Indy Racquet Club Friday evening.

The Panthers will be making their fourth straight appearance in the semifinal round after taking the shutout Friday night. In its last four opening round victories, HC has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 28-4.

Hanover dominated doubles play to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the match against the sixth-seeded Ravens (3-11). The Blue and Red won the Nos. 2 and 3 spots by a count of 8-0. Freshmen Keith Asplund (Jeffersonville, Ind.) and Pablo Gallart (Serra, Spain) were winners at No. 2, while juniors Landon Carrico (New Albany, Ind.) and Jonathan Helmers (Cincinnati, Ohio) competed at No. 3.

Rounding out doubles competition were sophomore Roger Trombley (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) and freshman Connor Garrison (Louisville, Ky.), who took the top slot by a count of 8-3. All three doubles pairs now have a six-plus match winning streak, led by Asplund and Gallart, who have won eight consecutive outings.

Carrico and Asplund were the first to finish in singles competition, both winning in straight sets to secure the overall victory. Carrico won his 11th straight match by taking the No. 2 match by a score of 6-1, 6-1. Asplund won at No. 3, 6-1, 6-0, for his seventh straight triumph.

As a team, Hanover has won eight straight matches, tying last season's best stretch. With the run, the Panthers improve to 10-6 overall. The Blue and Red entered this weekend as the No. 3 seed thanks to a 6-1 HCAC record.

Hanover will now take on No. 2 Earlham in the semifinal round at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 4, at West Indy Racquet Club. The Quakers handed HC its only loss during league play, a 7-2 decision.

Saturday's winner will advance to the HCAC Tournament Championship, which is slated for 10 a.m., Sunday, May 5.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu