MACON, Ga. -- The Covenant men's tennis team stepped out of USA South and Division III play for a pair of exhibition matches at Mercer on Tuesday afternoon. The host Bears downed the Scots 7-0 in both contests.

Originally scheduled for one match, the teams decided to make it a doubleheader on Tuesday. The matches will not count towards the record for Covenant (5-3), while Mercer (6-11) did count the two contests.

The matches were the first exhibition contests against a Division I foe for Covenant since taking on Chattanooga in 2019.

Using Division I scoring rules, Mercer opened the first match with a point for taking doubles play. The Bears had to work for it, though, as the Scots' top doubles tandem of Solomon Crouch and Austin Dreslinski hung tough with Mercer's Lucas Wayenburg and Hugo Lobo before falling 6-3. Covenant's Paxton Haggerty and Ben Luke also showed well at No. 2 before falling, 6-2.

Mercer completed the sweep in singles play. 

In the second match, Covenant switched the doubles lineup and placed Haggerty and Luke at No. 1, with Crouch and Dreslinski playing at No. 2 to give those duos a chance against different foes from Mercer. Both of the doubles teams lost 6-1 as Mercer took the doubles point.

In singles play, Dreslinski put up a fight against Lobo at No. 2 before falling 6-3, 6-2. 

UP NEXT

Covenant will be back home on Wednesday to face Berea in USA South action. First serve is set for 3 p.m.

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