MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's tennis team hosted their second home match of the season against Berry on Saturday, downing Berry College 6-3. 

With the Lynx in good spirits after defeating Oglethorpe the day prior, the team came out in the same fashion they always do, performing high quality doubles and going up 2-1 before singles. 

Jack Patton/Luis Ardila struggled to find their rhythm, clearly having a bad day at No. 1 doubles as they lost 8-1 against the Berry pair of Flores/Yerbey. 

Eliot Blatt/Greyson Brilliant came out a little flat at the beginning but were able to make up for it, breaking at 2-1 and running away with the match 8-3 against Gooding/Tucker.  Graham Sowden/Albert Vacheron again went to work and made quick work of Alligood/Pullen at No. 3.

The singles matches were intense with the first four matches going to third sets.  Blatt again displayed moments of brilliance followed by disengagement as he played the crafty Spaniard from Berry Inigo Flores.  Blatt found his range in the second set and converted on his second set point to even the match.  However, Flores came out swinging in the third, putting Blatt under pressure early and forcing uncharacteristic errors.  Greyson Brilliant fought long and hard against Logan Yerbey, forcing a third set but eventually succumbed to errors and strong hitting by the Berry No. 2. 

Graham Sowden finally found his singles game and put on a demonstration which inspired his Lynx, beating Michael Tucker 7-6 (2), 6-2.  Sowden finally unlocked his potential with his one handed backhand and closing volleys which served him well in the match.  Jack Patton made quick work of his opponent at No. 5 in a straight sets victory over Daniel Allgood. 

But Albert Vacheron came back from the dead and delivered the knockout punch to clinch the match for Rhodes.  After getting blown away in the first set, Vacheron faced two match points against Chase Gooding but would not be denied.  Clawing his way back into the second set, Vacheron took the set and destroyed Gooding in the third, defeating Berry and securing the victory for the Lynx. 

"I just had to keep believing in myself," said the local Memphian and St. George alum.  "I really wanted to pull through for my teammates." 

Luis Ardila wasted no time in joining the winner's circle, beating Jacob Belcher 6-0, 6-2.

Rhodes faces the Millsaps Majors and Birmingham Southern Panthers next week at home.  The Lynx are now 3-1 in conference losing only to Sewanee.

Rhodes College 6, Berry College 3

Singles competition
1. Inigo Flores (BCM) def. Eliot Blatt (RHODES) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
2. Logan Yerbey (BCM) def. Greyson Brilliant (RHODES) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Albert Vacheron (RHODES) def. Chase Goodning (BCM) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Graham Sowden (RHODES) def. Michael Tucker (BCM) 7-6 (2-0), 6-2
5. Jack Patton (RHODES) def. Daniel Alligood (BCM) 6-1, 6-4
6. Luis Ardila (RHODES) def. Jacob Belcher (BCM) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Inigo Flores/Logan Yerbey (BCM) def. Luis Ardila/Jack Patton (RHODES) 8-0
2. William Bitting/Eliot Blatt (RHODES) def. Chase Goodning/Michael Tucker (BCM) 8-3
3. Graham Sowden/Albert Vacheron (RHODES) def. Daniel Alligood/Jake Pullen (BCM) 8-3

Match Notes:
Berry College 8-3; Regional ranking #12
Rhodes College 8-5-1