MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After training hard for the last month, the Lynx Men finally got on the courts against someone other than a practice partner in Conway, AR at Hendrix College, defeating Austin College 9-0.
 
Playing against old SCAC opponent Austin College, Rhodes College looked sharp for its first competition since the fall, cruising to a 9-0 victory.
 
The Lynx swept the doubles indoors to begin the match, getting 8-1, 8-3, and 8-5 victories from doubles teams line three Olivier and Vacheron, line two Sowden and Brilliant, and line one Blatt and Lew respectively. 
 
Blatt/Lew found themselves down at the 4-5 changeover with Austin College serving to say up one break of serve, but with sharp returns and aggressive net play, the line one singles team seized the momentum back by breaking serve and never looked back.
 
Rhodes feasted in singles competition as well.  Freshman Albert Vacheron dropped the first game of his match at second singles.  That would prove to be his only loss at singles, as he found his groove and slammed the door shut on his opponent, rattling off 12 straight games en route to a 6-1, 6-0 victory for the teams fourth point.  Freshman Daniel Olivier sealed the team victory with the fifth point shortly after at line six with a 6-1, 6-1 win.
 
Sophomore Graham Sowden won a quick first set with his big forehand and precise passing shots 6-0, but his opponent reasserted his presence in the match, forcing a close 6-4 second set decision for the Lynx fifth singles player.  On the adjacent court, Trevor Lew struggled early with his opponent's crafty forehand, but developed an effective game plan to rise above and close out the match 6-1, 6-3.
 
On the top singles court, Eliot Blatt used good footwork to set himself up for powerful, heavy groundstrokes dismantling his opponent 6-1, 6-3.  Two courts away, Blatt's Austin Tennis Academy colleague Greyson Brilliant used a different strategy of patience and consistency to finish the match with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory.
 
Both Weston Breay  and Preston Tunnell-Wilson received the opportunity to play exhibition matches for the Lynx, winning 8-4 and 8-5 respectively.
 
The Lynx will take the court again against SAA host Hendrix College tomorrow Feb. 23 at 12 p.m.  Hendrix fell to Austin College 8-1 on Friday.
 
RESULTS
 
Rhodes College 9, Austin College 0
Feb. 22, 2014
Hendrix College Tennis Center
Conway, AR
 
Singles Competition
Eliot Blatt (RC) def. Cedric Ambula (AC) 6-1, 6-3
Albert Vacheron (RC) def. Nick Ashburn (Austin) 6-1, 6-0
Greyson Brilliant (RC) def. Jeff Kubena (AC) 6-1, 6-1
Trevor Lew (RC) def. Spencer Gander (AC) 6-1, 6-3
Graham Sowden (RC) def. David Smith (AC) 6-0, 6-4
Daniel Olivier (RC) def. Jack Kunde (6-1, 6-1)
 
Doubles Competition
Eliot Blatt/Trevor Lew (RC) def. Adam Dokos/Cedric Ambula (AC) 8-5
Graham Sowden/Greyson Brilliant (RC) def. David Smith/Jack Kunde (AC) 8-3
Albert Vacheron/Daniel Olivier (RC) def. Nick Ashburn/Nick Diaz (AC) 8-1
 
Match Notes:
Rhodes 1-0
Austin College 2-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (2, 6, 1, 4, 5, 3)