SUMTER, S.C. --- Tusculum University advanced two players to the round of 16 as members of the men's tennis team competed at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regional Small College/Oracle Championships at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
David Akinpetide won three matches and Frank Bonacia had a pair of wins for the Pioneers, who had all four of its singles entries earn at least one victory during the tournament.
Akinpetide opened the tournament with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Enrico Haas of Newberry in the round of 128, and followed up by upsetting ninth-seeded Agustin Aran of Queens 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 64. In the round of 32, Akinpetide earned a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Thembo Makhanya of Emmanuel before being eliminated by second-seeded Alvaro Regalado of Columbus State 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16.
Bonacia began play in the round of 64 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Philip Nordberg of Barton, then downed Alex Hyman of Lenoir-Rhyne 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the round of 32. Playing top-seeded Daniel Belsito of Wingate in the round of 16, Bonacia fell 6-3, 6-0.
Yago Fernandez beat Marcel Agbegne of Limestone 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 in the round of 64, but was forced to retire after two games against Valter Oshiro of Lander in the round of 32. Manuel Guedes de Almeida lost his round of 64 match to Roy Sepanov of Wingate by a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 score, but bounced back to defeat Gabriel Dabdab of Carson-Newman 6-4, 6-3 in a consolation match.
In doubles, both Pioneer teams were eliminated in their opening matches. Bonacia and Fernandez fell to Rodrigo Carvalho and Felipe Carvalho of Flagler 6-2, and Almeida and Akinpetide lost to Marc Janse and Rintaro Oka of Carson-Newman 6-2 in their round of 64 contest.
The Pioneers will return to action at the Grizzly Open, hosted by Georgia Gwinnett College from October 11-13 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
MEN'S SINGLES
Round of 128
David Akinpetide def. Enrico Haas (Newberry), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Round of 64
Frank Bonacia def. Philip Nordberg (Barton) 6-4, 6-2
Yago Fernandez def. Marcel Agbegne (Limestone) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
David Akinpetide def. Agustin Aran (Queens) 6-4, 6-3
Roy Sepanov (Wingate) def. Manuel Almeida, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
Round of 32
Frank Bonacia def. Alex Hyman (Lenoir-Rhyne) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
David Akinpetide def. Thembo Makhanya (Emmanuel) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Valter Oshiro (Lander) def. Yago Fernandez, 2-0 (retired)
Round of 16
(1) Daniel Belsito (Wingate) def. Frank Bonacia, 6-3, 6-0
(2) Alvaro Regalado (Columbus State) def. David Akinpetide, 6-4, 6-2
Consolation 2nd Round
Manuel Almeida def. Brandon Sweeney (Francis Marion), injury walkover
Consolation 3rd Round
Manuel Almeida def. Gabriel Dabdab (Carson-Newman) 6-4, 6-3
MEN'S DOUBLES
Round of 64
Rodrigo Carvalho/Felipe Carvalho (Flagler) def. Frank Bonacia/Yago Fernandez, 6-2
Marc Janse/Rintaro Oka (Carson-Newman) def. David Akinpetide/Manuel Almeida, 6-2
