CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Backed by strong performances in doubles play and at the top of singles lineup, the Covenant men's tennis team took two victories on Saturday inside the Strang-Voges Tennis Center at McCallie. The Scots defeated Belhaven 6-3 early in the day and then took down Hanover 6-3 late in the night.
The wins boosts Covenant's record to 3-1 on the year.
In the win over Belhaven, the Scots got out to a quick start by claiming all three doubles matches to grab a 3-0 lead. The No. 1 duo of Matthew Harvie and Chris Cox defeated Belhaven's Mauricio Gonzalez and Joan Soler 8-3 before Trey Wood and Trey Wetjen bested Owen Taylor and Travous Wilson by an identical 8-3 score at the third flight. Logan Hull and Taylor Galloway punctuated the doubles sweep with an 8-4 victory over Tracy Hilaire and Yves Ikuno.
In singles play, Harvie won 6-4, 6-2 over Gonzalez at the top spot and Cox's 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Hilaire clinched the match for the Scots. Once the match was decided, the remaining singles matches went to 8-game pro-sets. Galloway collected the final point for Covenant with his 8-6 win at No. 4 over Wilson.
Covenant had similar success in the nightcap against Hanover. The Scots got out to a 2-1 match lead after doubles and then took four of the six singles matches to complete the win.
Harvie and Cox were 8-2 winners over Hanover's Jonathan Helmers and Dakota Smith at the No. 1 doubles spot, while Hull and Galloway took a hard-fought, 9-8 (6) win over Alec Bates and Brent Barrett to give Covenant a 2-1 lead.
Cox picked up his second straight sweep as he bested Helmers 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles to give Covenant a 3-1 lead. Harvie took down Landon Carrico 6-0, 6-2 at the top flight before Hull clinched the match with his 6-3, 6-2 victory over Barrett.
Covenant also received a point in singles from Ben Tonkel, who defeated Bates 9-7.
UP NEXT
USA South play begins for the Scots on Friday at LaGrange. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
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